ft] 


V 


nr  , 


NJ 


A 

HISTORY 


OF    THE 


ONE  HUNDRED  AND  SEVENTEENTH  REGIMENT, 

• 


.  Y.  VOLUNTEERS, 


(FOURTH  ONEIDA,) 


FROM 


THE  DATE  OF  ITS  ORGANIZATION,  AUGUST,  1862, 


TILL 


THAT  OF  ITS  MUSTER  OUT,  JUNE,  1865. 


BY 


J.    A.    MOWRIS,    M.    D. 

Regimental   Surgeon. 


HARTFORD,     CONN. 

CASE,  LOCKWOOD  AND  COMPANY,  PRINTERS. 
1866. 


.5 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1866, 

BY  J.  A.  MOWRIS, 

fn  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  in  and  for 
the  Northern  District  of  New  York. 


TO    THE 

LIVING  HEROES 

OP   THE 

117th  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  VOLUNTEERS. 

AND   TO    THE 

IMI  IE  3VE  O  IE=l -y 

Of  its  GALLANT  DEAD,  the 

FOLLOWING  PAGES 
ARE  AFFECTIONATELY  DEDICATED. 


M157M7 


PREFACE. 


THE  book  which  is  now  presented  to  the  public,  had  its  origin  in 
the  oft-repeated  wish  of  many  members  of  the  regiment  that  its  rec 
ord  might  be  preserved ;  and  in  a  personal  sympathy  with  the  pro 
posed  object.  While,  therefore,  claiming  no  special  adaptation  for  the 
work,  the  writer  has  been  prevailed  upon,  by  these  considerations,  to 
undertake  it. 

While  unwilling  to  admit  that  any  other  regiment  was  superior  to 
the  117th,  he  is  not  disposed  to  represent  it  as  peculiarly  meritorious; 
neither  he  nor  the  public  can  ever  be  unmindful  of  the  valor  and 
valuable  services  of  the  14th,  26th,  97th,  and  146th  Regiments,  nor 
are  any,  more  ready  to  accord  to  them  the  esteem  and  gratitude  they 
so  abundantly  earned  than  the  members  of  the  4th  Oneida. 

As  the  writer  was  unacquainted  with  the  117th  till  he  joined  it 
about  three  months  after  its  formation,  the  early  history  of  the  regi 
ment,  including  that  of  its  organization,  could  not  be  supplied  by  him ; 
a  circumstance  which  might  have  proved  a  serious  obstacle;  but, 
happily,  a  person  possessing  the  necessary  knowledge  of  men  and 
places  within  the  district,  a  lively  interest  in  the  Regiment  and  hi  the 


vi  PREFACE. 

cause  in  which  it  enlisted,  and  a  degree  of  public  spirit  sufficient  to 
insure  the  required  amount  of  effort,  was  found  in  SURGEON  Looms, 
to  whom,  accordingly,  both  the  writer  and  the  reader  are  indebted  for 
the  essential  matter  contained  in  the  first  three  chapters. 

While  he  deprecates  the  recent  revival  of  the  rebel  spirit,  the 
writer  has  not  suffered  the  knowledge  of  it  to  abate  his  enthusiasm  in 
treating  of  our  military  achievements ;  believing  that  no  event,  not 
even  the  threatened  necessity  of  again  accepting  the  issue,  can  obscure 
the  significance  of  our  late  triumph  over  the  Slave-holders'  Rebellion, 
nor  dim  the  halo  of  that  glorious  era  in  our  Nation's  progress. 

Prominent  among  the  wishes  of  the  writer,  in  connection  with  the 
book  are  these,  that  it  may  receive  the  approbation  of  the  indulgent  and 
beloved  partners  of  his  toil,  in  whose  behalf  he  has  written ;  and,  that 
it  may  not  be  entirely  unacceptable  to  the  intelligent  community  to 
which  it  is  committed. 

THE  AUTHOR. 
SYRACUSE,  August  22nd,  1866. 


TABLE    OF    CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER   I. 

ORGANIZATION. 

Military  Situation. — Popular  Despondency  and  its  Causes. — Prompt  and  decisive 
Action  of  the  President,  and  the  Governor's  of  Eighteen  loyal  States — their  cor 
dial  Co-operation. — The  President's  call  for  Three  Hundred  Thousand  Men. — Gov- 
Morgan's  call  for  the  State  Quota. — The  Adjutant- General's  Circular. — The  Efforts 
made  in  the  Nineteenth  Senatorial  District. — A  Regiment  raised,  duly  organized 
and  entitled,  One  Hundred  and  Seventeenth  R.  K.  Y.  Vols. — Description  of  the 
Camp  at  Rome. — Incidents. — Regiment  ordered  to  report  at  Washington,  D.  C. 

13 

CHAPTER    II. 

FROM  ROME  TO  WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 

Departure  from  Rome,  August  22d.— Incidents.— The  stop  at  Utica.— Judge  Bacon's 
Address  .-^-Response  by  Col.  Pease. — Incidents.— Arrival  of  the  Regiment  at  Al 
bany. — Embarkment  on  a  Novel  Transport. — A  quiet  night. — Progress. — A  fine 
Morning. — Greetings  from  Inhabitants  and  Travelers. — Landing  at  Jersey  City. — 
A  Non-reception. — Take  Cars. — Night's  ride. — Arrival  at  Philadelphia. — Warm  re 
ception  and  Sumptuous  Fare. — Take  Cars  for  Baltimore. — Arrival. — Kindly  re 
ceived  and  well  cared  for. — An  Incident. — Take  Cars  for  Washington. — Arrival. 

26 

CHAPTER  III. 

FROM  WASHINGTON  DEPOT,  TO  DEPARTURE  FROM  FORT  ALEXANDER. 
THE  CAPITAL  AND  THE  CAPITOL. 

Pennsylvania  Avenue.— Long  Bridge.— Why  the  Regiment  did  not  cross.— March  to 
Tennally  Town. — Premature  Gun-shot  Wounds. — A  Tentless  Camp. — Tennally 
Town. — Advance  to  Chain  Bridge,  but  no  Engagement. — Return  to  Camp  ground 
in  Grove. — Move  to  Fort  Pennsylvania. — Battle  between  Pope  and  Stonewall  Jack 
son. — Remove  from  Fort  Pennsylvania  to  Fort  Alexander. — Duty  at  the  latter 
place.  ..-'-•  ...  36 


Vlll  TABLE   OP   CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER   IV. 

FROM  FORT  ALEXANDER  TO  FORTS  BAKKR  AND  RIPLEY. 

Regiment  strike  Tents  at  Fort  Alexander. — Removal  to  Camp  Morris,  "  Camp  Mud." 
— A  Strange  Visitor. — Citizens.—  Remove  to  the  Neighborhood  of  Fort  Pennsyl 
vania. — Cnmp  Morris  No.  2. — The  employment  of  the  Regiment.— Receipt  of  a 
New  Banner  from  Utica,  a  present  from  the  Ladies  of  that  City. — The  Presenta 
tion  Address. — Review  of  Sanitary  condition  of  the  Regiment  since  its  arrival  in 
the  District. — Social  pastime. — "Joe"  and  his  amusing  traits. — Order  for  a  Divi 
sion  of  the  Regiment  into  two  Battalions.  -  45 

CHAPTER   V. 

FROM  THE  DIVISION  OF  THE  REGIMENT,  TILL  ITS  RE-UNION  AND 
EMBARKATION. 

The  Battalions  March  to  their  respective  Places. — Occupation — The  Regiment  visit 
ed  by  Residents  of  Oneida  County. — Newspapers  in  Camp. — Preparation  for  the 
Field. — An  Order  to  Move. — March  to  the  Wharf. — The  Re-Union. — Embarkation. 
—Voyage  down  the  Potomac.  -  53 

CHAPTER  VI. 

JOURNEY  TO,  AND  SIEGE  OF  SUFFOLK. 

Voyage  down  the  Potomac. — Arrival  at  Norfolk. — Citizens. — Arrival  at  Suffolk. — 
Incidents. — Col.  Pease  holds  the  Right  of  the  Line. — Incidents. — Inhabitants. — 
Regiment  Occupies  Hill's  Point. — Incidents. — Regiment  Paid. — News  from  Fred- 
ericksburg. — Health.  .  60 

CHAPTER    VII. 

FROM  SUFFOLK  TO  CHARLESTON  HARBOR. 

The  return  from  Snffolk. — Encamp  near  Julian's  Creek. — Incidents. — Concurrent 
Military  Events. — Peninsula  Raid. — Severe  March  and  great  Suffering. — Lee's  In 
vasion  of  the  North,  £c. — Return  from  the  Raid. — A  short  Rest. — Orders  to  Move. 
—March  to  Portsmouth.— Take  Transport. — Sail  Southward. — Put  into  Beaufort 
Harbor  for  Repairs.— Change  Transports. — Resume  Voyage  to  Charleston  Harbor. 

70 

CHAPTER    VIII. 

THE  FOLLY  ISLAND  CAMPAIGN. 

Entrance  in  Charleston  Harbor. — Landing. — Siege  of  Fort  Wagner. — Severe  Duty. 
—Privation  and  Suffering.— Much  Sickness.— A  Month's  Service  on  Block  Island. 

— Additional    Comforts  and   Improved  Health. — Thanksgiving. — Shell-hunting. 

John's  Island   Expedition.      Regimental   Changes  by   Resignations  and  Promo 
tions.  79 

CHAPTER    IX. 

LEAVE  FOLLY  ISLAND  TO  JOIN  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  JAMES. 
Departure  from  Folly  Island.— Take  Passage  on  Board  Transport  "  Blackstone ," 
Captain  Berry.— Arrive  at  Fort  Monroe.— Proceed  to  Gloucester  Point.— Orcran- 
izntion  of  the  Army  of  the  James,  and  Re-formation  of  the  10th  Army  Corps.— 
Advance  to  We3t  Point.— Reconnoisance.— Re-embark  and  Steam  back  to  Fort 
Monroe.— Thence  move  up  the  James.— Arrive  at  Bermuda  Hundred.— Debark.— 
Ihe  succeeding  Movements,  which  culminated  in  the  Battle  of  Drury's  Bluff— 
The  Army  of  the  James  withdraws  and  Intrenches.  -  .97 


TABLE   OF   CONTENTS.  ix 

CHAPTER   X. 

COLD  HARBOR,  CAPTURE  OF  PETERSBURG  HEIGHTS;  BERMUDA 
HUNDRED  AND  PETERSBURG  TRENCHES. 

Withdraw  from  Bermuda  Line. — City  Point. — Take  Transports. — White  House. — 
Cold  Harbor. — Incidents  — Casualties. — Death  of  Lieutenant  Dann. — Rebel  Inhu 
manity. — This  portion  of  10th  Corps  covers  the  Retreat  of  the  Army  of  Potomac. 
— A  hard  March. — Change  of  Base. — On  to  Petersburg. — Colored  Troops, — Assault 
on  the  Fortifications  of  Petersburg  Heights. — Their  Capture. — Non-improvement 
of  the  Golden  Opportunity. — The  Enemy  arrives  in  Force. — Death  of  Captain 
Stone  — Bermuda  Line  threatened. — Move  to  that  Point. — Return  to  Petersburg. — 
Duty  in  Trenches.— Casualties. — Captain  Hunt  Wounded. — Col.  White  taken  ill 
and  obliged  to  go  to  Hospital.  .  109 

CHAPTER   XI. 

SPRINGING  OF  THE  MINE;  CROSSING  OF  THE  JAMES. 

Second  Division  withdraws  from  Petersburg  Trenches. — Explosion  of  the  Mine. — 
Severe  March  to  Bermuda  Line. — Suffering  of  the  Troops  from  Heat  and  Over-ex 
ertion. — Formation  of  Camp  in  Rear  of  Bermuda  Intrenchments. — A  Pleasant 
Camp. — Military  events  on  the  Line  during  the  Month. — Return  to  Petersburg. — 
Duty  in  Trenches. — Sickness. — Incidents. — Tenth  A.  C.  Retires  to  the  high  ground, 
two 'Miles  to  the  Rear. — Preparation  for  a  new  Enterprise.  122 

CHAPTER    XII. 

CHAPIN^S  FARM. 

The  10th  and  18th  Corps  cross  the  James  River.— Battle  of  Chapin's  Farm.— In 
trench.— A  Flank  Attack  on  the  7th  of  October.— Assault  on  t'he  Rebel  Works, 
and  the  Engagement,  (Oct.  27th). — Incidents. — Election. — Military  Events.  -  134 

CHAPTER    XIII- 

THE  BUTLER  EXPEDITION  TO  FORT  FISHER. 

March  to  Bermuda  Hundred,  Landing  by  a  circuitous  Rout. — Embark. — A  Detention 
at  Fort  Monroe. — A  big  Feint. — Voyage  to  Federal  Point. — Another  Delay. — 
Return  Northward  to  Moreh-ead  Citv. — Flag  Ship  absent,  Fleet  remains  outside  of 
the  Harbor. — Encounters  a  severe  Gale. — Cabin  Scene  during  the  Gale. — Weybos- 
sett  nobly  outrides  the  Storm,  and  makes  the  Harbor  next  day. — A  Four  Day's 
Detention.— Start  again  for  Federal  Point.— Pleasant  Voyage  and  a  "  Merry  Christ 
mas  Eve."— Debark.— Advance  of  Gen.  Curtis'  Brigade.— 142d  R.,  112th  and  3d 
R.  N.  Y.  Vols.,  Reconnoitre  about  the  Fort.— 117th  Regiment  faces  Wilmington 
and  brings  in  130  Prisoners. — How  the  Prisoners  were  taken. — Gen.  Curtis  reluc 
tantly  complies  with  the  fourth  Order  to  retire,  when  1st  Brigade  returns  to  the 
Place  of  Debarkation. — A  Gloomy  night  for  the  Command. — Expedition  returns. — 
Gen.  Curtis'  Report. — A  new  Expedition  determined  on.  -  -  147 

CHAPTER    XIV. 

CAPTURE  OF  FORT  FISHER  AND  EXPLOSION  OF  THE  MAGAZINE. 

Break  Camp  at  Chapin's  Farm. — March  and  Embarkation. — Voyage. — Landing  on 
Federal  Point. — Advance. — Assume  the  Defensive. — The  Bombardment. — Offen-^ 
sive  Movements  begun  by  the  1st  Brigade. — The  Investment. — Jle-enfprcement  of 
the  Enemy. — Preparations  for  the  Assault. — Bombardment  continues. — The 
Charge.— the  Conflict.— Its  Intensity  and  Duration.— Tire  Crisis.— Surrender  of 
the  Garrison.— Description  of  the  Fort.— Fearful  Expedients  for  its  Defense.— Ex 
plosion  of  the  Magazine.  -  -  *6® 


X  TABLE   OF   CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER    XV. 

CAPTURE  OF  WILMINGTON,  AND  MARCH  NORTHWARD  TO 
KEENANSVILLE. 

Transfer  of  the  Wounded  to  the  Transports.— Troops  recruit  and  re-form.— Arrival 
of  Gen.  Schofield.— Advance  on  Wilmington.— Enter  and  occupy  the  Town  on  the 
22d  of  February.— Street  Scenes.— Union  Prisoners.— Immediate  Defenses  of  the 
Town.— Incidents.— Preparation  for  an  Advance.— Schofield,  Terry  and  Sherman. 
The  Column  Moves,  March  15th.— Geographical,  Social,  and  Political  Features  of 
that  Region.— Incidents  of  the  March.— On  the  fourth  day  approach  Keenansville. 

183 

CHAPTER    XYI. 

ARRIVAL  AT  COXE'  BRIDGE  AND  RETURN  TO  FAISON'S  STATION. 

Arrival  at  Keenansville.— A  Genial  but  Pungent  Colloquy.— Reach  Coxe'  Bridge 
Crossing. — Arrival  and  Passage  of  Sherman's  Column. — Foraging. — A  Loyal 
Dutchman's  Logic. — Terry's  Force  retires  to  Faison's  Station. — Remain  there  about 
Three  Weeks.— Wheeler's  Cavalry.— Incidents.— April  9th,  Receive  Intelligence  of 
the  Evacuation  of  Richmond. — Prepare  to  Move. — Removal  of  the  Sick  to  Wil 
mington.— The  March  Toward  Raleigh.— Social  and  Political  Features  of  the  In 
terior.  -  -  193 

CHAPTER    XVII. 

MARCH  TO  RALEIGH  CONCLUDED,  AND  SOJOURN  IN  THAT  CITY. 

Passage  of  Bentonville  Battlefield. — Bentonville. — News  of  Lee's  surrender. — How  it 
was  received  by  the  Troops. — Reach  Raleigh. — Receive  news  that  Sherman,  with 
a  Portion  of  his  Army,  has  confronted  Johnston  and  that  the  latter  proposes  to 
Surrender. — Great  Rejoicing.— The  Capitulation  tediously  Protracted. — Receipt  of 
the  Intelligence  of  Assassination  of  President  Lincoln. — The  News.— Its  Effect  on 
the  Troops. — They  want  to  go  Forward  to  facilitate  the  Surrender. — Gen.  Grant  on 
his  way  to  Raleigh. — Telegraphs  an  Order  to  prepare  to  March. — The  Surrender 
concluded. — A  Grand  Military  Review  in  Raleigh. — The  Enemy  having  been  thor 
oughly  Vanquished,  the  Troops  are  Impatient  to  return  Home. — Gen.  Sherman's 
Army  Marches  to  Washington,  D.  C. — Health  of  the  Regiment. — Social  and  Politi 
cal  Aspects  of  Raleigh.— Incidents.  208 

CHAPTER    XVIII. 

MARCH  HOMEWARD  FROM  RALEIGH  AND  THE  FINAL  MUSTER. 

Preparation  of  the  Muster-rolls. — The  Regiment  Mustered  out  of  the  U.  S.  Service. 
— Journey  by  Railroad  to  Hicksford. — Thence  Kegiment  Marches  to  City  Point. 
— Thence  goes  bv  Transport  to  New  York  City,  where  it  arrives  June  17th. — 
Thence  in  same  Transport  to  Albany. — 18th,  take  Cars  for  Syracuse. — Train  stops 
at  Utica.— Reception  by  the  Citizens. — Proceeds  to  Syracuse. — Regiment  dissolved 
on  the  28th.  -  .  221 

Field  and  Staff,  -  -  .  231 

Officers  appoiuted  after  the  formation  of  the  Regiment,  -        333 

Roster  of  Company  "A,"        ......  235 


TABLE  OP  CONTENTS.  xi 

Roster  of  Company "  B,"  .           .           -        239 

Roster  of  Company "  C,"  -                                               ...             245 

Roster  of  Company "  D,"  .                               250 

Roster  of  Company "  E,"  ...             255 

Roster  of  Company  "  F,"  .       269 

Roster  of  Company "  G,"  -                                              -           -           -             264 

Roster  of  Company  "  H,"  -                   26d 

Roster  of  Company "  I,"  -                                               ...             274 

Roster  of  Company  "  K,"  -------       279 


HISTORY 

OP    THE 


ONE  HUNDRED  SEVENTEENTH  R.  N.  I.  VOLS. 


CHAPTER    I. 

OKGANIZATION. 

Military  Situation. — Popular  despondency,  and  its  causes. — Prompt  and  decisive 
action  of  the  President  and  the  Governors  of  eighteen  loyal  States — their  cor 
dial  co-operation. — The  President's  call  for  three  hundred  thousand  men. — 
Governor  Morgan's  call  for  the  State  quota. — The  Adjutant  General's  circular. 
— The  efforts  made  in  Nineteeth  Senatorial  District. — A  Regiment  raised, 
duly  organized,  and  entitled  One  Hundred  arid  Seventeenth  R.  N.  Y.  Vols. — 
Description  of  the  camp  at  Rome. — Incidents. — Regiment  ordered  to  report  at 
Washington,  D.  C. 

THE  war  of  the  great  rebellion  had  been  in  progress  fifteen 
months.  Fort  Sumter  and  her  heroic  garrison  had  been  cap 
tured  by  rebel  violence.  The  disaster  of  Bull  Run  had 
fallen,  with  its  almost  crushing  weight  upon  a  hopeful  but 
anxious  people ;  and  the  Peninsula  Richmond  campaign,  in 
augurated  after  months  of  preparation,  and  embodying  the 
highest  hopes  of  a  great  and  expectant  nation,  had  just  cul 
minated  in  a  retreat  and  a  loss  of  life  that  had  clothed  the 
land  in  mourning. 

Five  hundred  thousand  men  had  already  been  sent  to  the 


14  HISTORY   OF    THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V. 

field  of  strife,  of  whom  not  more  than  three  hundred  thousand 
remained  fit  for  duty. 

It  was  under  these  circumstances,  and  in  the  midst  of  con 
sequent  despondency  and  gloom,  unparalleled  in  the  history 
of  the  country,  connected  with  wide  spread  crimination  and 
re-crimination,  that  the  President,  unshaken  by  the  public 
complaints,  and  undismayed  by  disaster,  in  response  to  a  letter 
addressed  to  him  bearing  the  signatures  of  eighteen  loyal 
Govenors,  issued  a  call  for  three  hundred  thousand  men. 

The  call  contained  the  following  language : 

EXECUTIVE  MANSION,  "Washington,  July  1st,  1862. 

GENTLEMEN, 

Fully  concurring  in  the  wisdom  of  the  views  expressed  to 
me  in  so  patriotic  a  manner  by  you  in  the  communication  of 
the  28th  day  of  June,  I  have  decided  to  call  into  the  service 
an  additional  force  of  three  hundred  thousand  men  *  *  * 

I  trust  that  they  may  be  enrolled  without  delay  so  as  to 
bring  this  unnecessary  and  injurious  civil  war  to  a  speedy 
and  satisfactory  conclusion.  ******* 

ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

Governor  Morgan,  by  a  Proclamation  dated  July  2nd,  the 
day  following  the  date  of  the  President's  call,  and  in  full  har 
mony  with  the  rising  patriotism  of  the  State  used  the  follow 
ing  earnest  and  significant  language. 

"This  appeal  is  to  the  State  of  New  York:  it  is  to  each 
citizen.  Let  it  come  to  every  fire-side.  Let  the  glorious  ex 
ample  of  the  Revolutionary  period  be  our  emulation.  Let 
each  feel  that  the  commonwealth  now  counts  upon  his  indi 
vidual  strength  and  influence,  to  meet  the  demands  of  the 
government. 


HISTORY   OF   THE    117TH  K.    N.    Y.    V.  15 

The  period  has  come  when  all  must  aid.  New  York  has 
not  thus  far  stood  back.  Ready,  and  more  than  willing,  she- 
has  met  every  summons  to  duty.  Let  not  her  history  be: 
falsified,  nor  her  position  lowered." 

On  the  5th  day  of  July,  three  days  after  the  appearance  of' 
the  above  appeal,  there  issued,  from  the  Adjutant-General's 
office,  a  circular  directing  the  division  of  the  State  into  regi 
mental  districts,  corresponding  to  the  present  senatorial  sub 
divisions  with  a  rendezvous  camp  in  each. 

The  letter,  appointing  the  committee  for  this  the  Nineteenth, 
District,  was  addressed  to  the  Hon.  Horatio  Seymour.  The 
duty  assigned  to  the  committee  was  an  earnest  and  determined! 
effort  to  organize  a  regiment  of  volunteers  under  the  recent 
call  of  the  President. 

The  committees  were  authorized  to  insure  every  person 
who  recruited  a  company,  a  position  as  Captain  beyond  all 
contingency,  at  the  same  time  that  liberal  bounties  would  be- 
provided  for  enlisted  men.  They  were  further  advised  that 
the  order  containing  details  of  the  organization,  with  letters 
of  instruction,  would  be  sent  within  a  few  days. 

Meanwhile,  to  avoid  delay,  the  committee  or  a  majority 
were  required  to  assemble  at  the  earliest  practicable  moment 
after  receiving  the  notice  of  their  appointment,  and  to  nomi 
nate  a  suitable  person  to  take  command  of  the  regiment. 
The  person  thus  nominated  was  directed  to  report  in  person 
to  "these  Head  Quarters"  for  instructions. 

In  this  district,  the  following  distinguished  gentlemen  were 
the  committee.  Hon.  Horatio  Seymour,  Chairman  ;  Hon.  F. 
Kernan,  Hon.  William  H.  Ferry,  Judge  William  J.  Bacon, 
and  Charles  Doolittle,  Esqr.,  Utica.  Hon.  B.  N.  Huntington 


16  HISTORY   OF   THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.  ,V. 

and  C.  Comstock,  Rome ;  Luther  Guiteau,  Trenton ;  and  0. 
S.  Williams,  Clinton. 

The  committee  were  instructed  to  increase  their  number 
by  forwarding,  as  soon  as  practicable,  through  their  chairman, 
with  their  nomination  of  a  regimental  commander,  the 
names  of  a  few  prominent  and  active  citizens  from  different 
parts  of  the  district,  which  would  be  added  to  the  list. 
Agreeably  with  this  arrangement,  there  were  added  to  this 
committee,  the  following  named  gentlemen :  Samuel  Campbell, 
Whitestown;  D.B.  Good  win,  Waterville;  D.  J.  Millard, Paris; 
T.  D.  Penfield,  Camden;  and  David  T.  Jenkins,  Vernon. 

The  address  ran  as  follows. 

•"If  the  call  of  the  President,  and  the  proclamation  of  the 
Chief  Magistrate  of  the  State,  meet  with  that  prompt  and 
patriotic  response  from  the  people,  which  alone  can  give  them 
Tital  force  and  effect,  the  day  is  not  distant  when  we  may  see 
the  re-establishment  of  a  constitution,  more  doubly  precious 
for  the  trials  and  sacrifices  through  which  it  has  been  upheld. 
The  State  of  New  York,  first  in  wealth,  in  population,  and 
resources,  should  not  be  second  in  the  alacrity  with  which 
her  citizens  meet  the  responsibilities  resting  on  them.  The 
time  for  indifference  and  inaction  has  passed,  and  every  man, 
no  matter  what  may  be  his  position,  must  come  to  a  prompt 
determination  to  devote  himself  to  the  cause  of  his  country, 
or  take  the  eternal  disgrace  of  having  turned  a  deaf  ear  to 
her  call,  at  a  time  when  her  institutions  are  menaced  with 
danger,  perhaps,  even  with  destruction." 

The  committee  at  its  first  meeting,  completed  its  organiza 
tion  by  electing  Charles  Doolittle,  Esq.,  Secretary.  This 
meeting  was  held  in  Utica,  at  Bagg's  Hotel,  on  the  14th  day 


HISTORY   OF   THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V.  17 

of  July,  1862.     On  this  occasion,  William  R.  Pease,  was  rec 
ommended  as  Colonel  of  the  prospective  regiment. 

The  selection  was  an  eminently  proper  one.  Col.  Pease 
was  a  native  of  Utica,  and  a  graduate  of  the  Military  Acade 
my.  At  this  time  he  was  in  the  regular  service  and  stationed 
in  Utica  as  Mustering  and  Disbursing  Officer  for  Central  New 
York.  During  this  session  of  the  War  Committee  they  sent  a 
message  to  the  commander  elect  requesting  an  interview. 
On  presenting  himself  he  was  informed  of  his  election.  The 
stated  conditions  being  mutually  satisfactory,  he  accepted  the 
position,  and,  pursuant  to  directions,  reported  at  Albany, 
for  his  commission.  Though  he  was  designated  as  com 
mander  of  the  new  regiment  as  early  as  the  21st  day  of  July, 
he  was  not  relieved  from  his  duties  as  Mustering  and  Dis 
bursing  Officer  until  July  31 ;  so  that  he  could  not  devote 
his  entire  attention  to  organizing  the  regiment  until  August 
first. 

From  this  date,  he  labored  with  all  diligence  in  the  work  of 
recruiting  a  regiment,  known  for  the  time,  as  the  Fourth  Oneida. 

For  this  purpose,  he  was  invested  with  all  the  powers,  and 
expected  to  perform  all  the  duties  appertaining  to,  command 
ants  of  depots.  One  of  his  duties  was  that  of  making  daily 
reports  of  his  progress  to  the  Adjutant-General  of  the  State. 
To  make  the  organization  effective  in  the  work  of  recruiting, 
it  was  necessary  that  an  Adjutant,  Quarter-Master  and  Surgeon 
should  be  appointed,  by  the  Commander-in-Chief,  the  first 
two  officers,  on  the  nomination  of  regimental  commanders,  and 
mustered  into  the  service;  the  Adjutant  to  act  as  mustering 
officer.  Each  company  was  to  contain,  officers  and  privates, 
eighty  three  minimum,  one  hundred  and  one  maximum. 
The  Governor,  at  his  discretion,  on  the  approval  of  the  Reg- 


18  HISTORY   OF   THE    117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V. 

imcntal  Commander,  issued  certificates  of  authorization  to 
persons  allowing  them  to  enlist  or  enrol  men  for  the  regiment, 
and  entitling  them  to  receive  a  commission  as  second  Lieu 
tenant,  on  the  presentation  of  not  fewer  than  thirty  men,  who 
shall  have  passed  muster ;  to  a  commission  as  first  Lieuten 
ant  for  no  fewer  than  forty  men,  and,  to  a  commission  as 
Captain  for  eighty-three  men  or  over.  The  late  John  M. 
Walcott  was  the  first  person  thus  authorized  to  recruit  a 
company. 

On  the  completion  of  ten  companies  of  the  minimum 
standard,  of  an  aggregate  of  eight  hundred  and  forty-four 
officers  and  men,  they  were  to  be  formed  into  a  regiment ;  the 
maximum  standard  being  ten  hundred  and  twenty-four. 

In  accordance  with  these  regulations  Egbert  Bagg,  a  native 
of  Utica,  a  well  known  citizen  of  good  business  capacity  was 
commissioned  Quarter-Master  on  the  23rd  day  of  July,  his* 
being  the  first  commission  issued  to  the  regiment.  On  the 
24th,  the  day  following,  James  M.  Latimer,  another  citizen  of 
Utica,  younger,  but  one  who  had  received  a  thorough  drilling 
in  the  local  military,  was  commissioned  Adjutant.  Both  en 
tered  immediately  upon  the  duties  of  their  respective  offices. 

On  the  29th  of  the  same  month,  Doctor  Edward  Loomis, 
a  native  and  life-long  resident  of  Westmoreland,  having 
passed  the  examining  board  at  Albany,  was  commissioned 
Surgeon  and  ordered  to  re'port  to  the  regiment,  which  he  did, 
without  delay,  and  entered  immediately  upon  his  duties.  The 
Doctor  had  practiced  his  profession  in  Westmoreland  and 
vicinity  for  more  than  thirty  years,  and  had  represented  his 
district  creditably  in  the  State  Legislature. 

Up  to  this  date,  there  had  been  about  two  hundred  men 
enrolled,  whose  medical  examination,  by  consent  of  the 


HISTORY   OP   THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V.  19 

authorities  had  been  conducted  by  Dr.  Charles  B.  Coventry  of 
Utica. 

The  work  of  recruiting  and  mustering  was  already  in  active 
operation  in  the  county.  Authorization  papers  for  recruiting 
had  been  issued  to  men  of  character  and  energy  in  every  town 
in  Oneida.  The  labors  of  the  Military,  or  War  Committee, 
together  with  those  of  Col.  Pease  and  the  prospective  com 
pany  officers,  were  very  efficient.  Besides,  this  additional 
agency  had  been  brought  to  bear.  The  Governor,  by  a  cir 
cular  address  to  every  supervisor  in  the  State,  urging  them  to 
prompt  action  in  the  cause,  had  secured  valuable  town  co-op 
eration. 

This  circular,  dated  July  16,  1862,  contained  the  following 
significant  declaration. 

"  The  rebel  capital  must  not  be  permitted  longer  to  defy 
the  authority  of  the  Government  of  the  United  States,  and 
degrade  it  in  the  estimation  of  the  Nations  of  the  Earth." 

Gentlemen  of  ability  and  influence  were  addressing  public 
meetings  in  every  part  of  the  county,  and,  the  war  spirit  was 
up  to  fever  heat,  or  perhaps,  was  attaining  its  normal  standard. 

Among  the  gentlemen  who  were  prominent  in  these*  efforts, 
the  following  named  deserve  honorable  mention  :  Hoi;.  Francis 
Kernan,  Erastus  Clark,  John  Snow  of  Oneida  County ;  C.  H. 
Doolittle,  Hiram  T.  Jenkins,  Gen.  Bruce  of  Lenox,  Madison 
County;  Hon.  A.  H.  Bailey,  Hon.  R.  Conkling,  -Ward  Hunt, 
Judge  Geo.  W.  Smith,  Dewitt  0.  Grave,  Ex.  Gov.  Seymour, 
Col.  McQuade,  Judge  W.  J.  Bacon,  Rev.  M.  E.  Dunham,  C. 
M.  Scholefield,  Judge  N.  A.  Foster,  Rev.  John  Harvey,  C. 
McLane,  Judge  Root,  E.  L.  Stevens,  L.  H.  Babcock,  Rev.  J. 
T.  Crippen,  M.  J.  Shoecraft  of  Oneida,  Madison  County. 

On  the  15th  day  of  August,  a  special  meeting  of  the  board 


20  HISTORY  OF  THE  117TH  R.   N.   Y.    V. 

of  Supervisors  was  held  at  the  Court  House  in  Kome,  at 
which,  measures  were  taken  to  raise  one  hundred  and  sixty 
two  thousand  seven  hundred  dollars,  on  the  credit  of  the 
county,  for  the  purpose  of  paying  a  bounty  of  fifty  dollars  to. 
each  volunteer.  The  measure  was  passed  and  the  sum 
appropriated,  Lorenzo  Rouse  of  Marshall  presiding. 

The  State  also  paid  a  bounty  of  fifty  dollars.  The  National 
Government  advanced  twenty-five  of  the  one  hundred  dollars 
due  the  men  at  the  end  of  their  service,  and  thirteen  dollars, 
being  one  month's  pay,  besides  two  dollars  for  each  man  as  a 
recruiting  fund,  making  a  sum  total,  of  one  hundred  and 
forty  two  dollars,  paid  to  each  volunteer  before  his  departure 
from  the  county. 

The  effect  of  this  general  co-operation,  was  a  rapid  growth 
of  the  organization. 

In  the  early  part  of  August,  the  Regiment  was  ordered  by 
the  Governor,  to  rendezvous  at  the  village  of  Rome.  Accor 
dingly,  Head-Quarters  were  immediately  transferred  from 
Utica  to  Rome,  where  a  camp  was  at  once  established.  The 
site  was  on  a  dry  and  elevated  piece  of  ground,  on  the  west 
ern  border  of  the  village,  and  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile 
distant  from  its  centre,  between  Dominic  and  Liberty  Streets. 
The  lot,  which  was  surrounded  by  a  substantial  board  fence, 
comprised  about  twenty  acres,  and  was  owned  by  Enoch 
Armstrong. 

The  only  buildings  on  the  ground,  were  those  then  erected 
for  the  accommodation  of  the  Regiment,  consisting  of  Quar 
ters,  Kitchens  and  Mess  Houses.  There  was  also  the  Quarter- 
Master's  department.  On  the  western  and  higher  portion 
of  the  inclosure  were  several  tents.  They  were  occupied  by 
the  Surgeon  and  Adjutant. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V.  21 

This  camp,  thus  beautifully  situated,  very  fittingly  received 
the  name  of  Camp  Huntington,  after  the  family  that  had  been 
among  the  first  in  wealth,  in  refinement  and  public  spirit  in 
that  enterprising  village,  justly  celebrated  for  its  high  social 
character,  during  nearly  its  whole  history. 

Mr.  H.  L.  Rose  was  "mine host"  of  Camp  Huntington  and 
by  contract  furnished  the  edibles,  in  military  parlance  called 
"rations,"  for  the  men,  during  their  stay  there,  and  on  many 
an  occasion  afterwards,  on  long  marches,  with  short  allowance 
or  fasting,  they  called  to  mind  his  savory  dishes  with  a  relish 
they  had  never  before  experienced. 

A  camp,  even  in  Rome  could  not  long  exist  without  the 
usual  incidents,  physical,  social  and  moral.  Camp  diseases  in 
a  mild  form  soon  appeared,  especially  the  two  great  classes, 
real  and  feigned.  Among  the  former,  were  fever  and  bowel 
affections, — among  the  latter  were  lumbago,  epilepsy  and  hip 
disease,  one  case  of  moral  infirmity,  after  a  rapid  development 
culminated  in  suicide. 

As  the  regiment  approached  its  complement,  on  account  of 
the  accession  to  its  population,  the  village  became  a  lively  and 
interesting  centre. 

The  throngs  constantly  coming  and  going,  the  groups  to 
be  seen  at  all  hours  of  the  day,  the  uboys  in  blue"  promen 
ading  in  every  direction,  in  arm  with  a  mother,  wife,  sister  or 
"  sweetheart,"  the  crowds  of  men  at  the  Quarter-Masters  de 
partment,  donning  their  new  uniforms,  the  white  tents,  the 
guards  passing  to  and  fro  on  their  well  trodden  beats,  present 
ed,  altogether,  on  those  fair  August  days,  a  picturesque  and 
exciting  scene. 

The  companies  were  filled  to  the  maximum  and  mustered 
*'j\to  service  in  the  following  order,  viz. 


22  HISTORY   OF   THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V. 

Company,  A,  Captain,  A.  White. 

"  B.  "  R.  Paggett. 

"  C,  "  F.  X.  Myer. 

«  D,  "  J.  M.  Walcott. 

"  E,  "  L.  K.  Brown. 

«  F,  "  S.  J.  Stoves. 

"  G,  "  Charles  II.  Roys. 

«  H,  "  A.  R.  Stevens. 

"  I,  "  Chs.  Wheelock. 

"  K,  "  James  A.  Race. 

After  their  muster  in  as  Captain,  Captain  Alvin  White  was 
promoted  to  Lieutenant  Colonel,  and  Captain  Rufus  Daggett 
to  Major,  First  Lieutenant  Brigham  and  First  Lieutenant  J. 
P.  Stone  being  promoted  in  their  stead. 

On  the  20th  day  of  August,  scarcely  three  weeks  from 
the  time  Col.  Pease  was  relieved  from  the  duties  of  his  for 
mer  offices  in  the  regular  service,  nearly  eleven  hundred 
men  were  on  hand,  available  for  the  field,  and  so  strong  was 
the  incoming  current,  that  it  could  be  checked,  only  by  a  re 
fusal  to  accept  more.  On  the  same  day  Lieutenant  M.  C. 
Caustin,  19th  U.  S.  Infantry  Mustering  Officer  arrived  at 
Rome  and  mustered  into  service,  the  entire  regiment,  every 
company  having  attained  the  maximum  number.  The  or 
ganization  being  complete,  it  was  now  numbered  and  named 
the  "  One  Hundred  and  Seventeenth  Regiment  New  York 
Volunteers."  On  this  occasion  the  men  received  their  bounty, 
Captain  Caustin  paying  the  Government  bounty  of  twenty 
five  dollars  per  man,  and  the  State  Pay-master,  paying  the 
State  bounty. 

The  regiment  was,  strictly  speaking,  a  county  organization 


HISTORY   OF   THE    117TH  R.    N.   Y.    V.  23 

and  every  town  was  liberally  represented,  though  it  might 
perhaps  in  a  general  way  be  thus  localized.  The  boys  com 
prising  Co.  A,  were  mostly  from  Utica  and  Vernon :  those  of 
Co..B,  were  from  Utica  and  Camden :  C,  Utica  and  West 
Moreland:  D,  Utica,  Whitestown  and  Sangersfi eld  :  E,  Rome 
and  Ann's  Ville  :  F,  Oriskany  and  North  of  it :  G,  Paris  and 
Kirkland :  H,  Utica :  I,  Boonville,  Remson,  and  Trenton  : 
J£,  Sangerfield  and  North.  The  above  is  only  an  average, 
Co.  H,  had  the  highest  per  centage  of  married  men :  Co.  G, 
was  made  up  mostly  of  young  men  which,  perhaps,  will  ac- 
account  for  its  always  furnishing  and  claiming  a  plump  deci 
mal  of  the  mail  matter. 

Numerous  vocations  were  also  represented.  There  was 
the  atheletic  lumberman ;  the  youthful  yeoman,  legal  heir 
to  many  a  paternal  acre ;  the  staid  mechanic ;  the  punctual 
operative  ;  the  tidy  clerk  ;  the  bank  accountant  and,  not  least, 
the  oft-chidden  son  of  sage  Mother  Hamilton. 

Their  physical  appearance  was  unusually  fine,  while  their 
average  social  standing  was  high.     Col.  Pease,  who  was  ac 
customed  to  seeing  and  comparing  regiments,  lately  remarked 
concerning  them,  "  they  were   the  finest  body  of  men  I  eve 
saw." 

The  regiment  was  officered  as  follows. 

Field  Officers. — Colonel  W.  R.  Pease,  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Alvin  White,  who  had  been  promoted  from  Captain  of  Co.  A  ; 
Major  Rufus  Daggett,  who  had  been  promoted  from  Captain 
of  Co.  B. 

Staff  Officers. — Surgeon  Edward  Loomis,  Assistant  Sur 
geons  Samuel  Ingraham  and  Henry  W.  Carpenter  ;  Quarter- 
Master,  Egbert  Bagg;  Adjutant,  James  M.  Latimore ;  Chap 
lain  Rev.  J.  T.  Crippen. 


24  HISTORY   OF  THE  117TH  R.   N.   Y.   V. 

They  were  all  appointed  and  commissioned  by  the  Gover 
nor  on  the  recommendation  of  Col.  Pease  with  the  unanimous 
approval  of  the  military  committee.  Lieutenant  Col.  White 
was  an  old  resident  of  the  city  of  Utica,  where  he  had  enjoyed 
the  confidence  of  its  people  as  an  upright  and  valued  citizen  ; 
he  had  for  several  years  held  the  position  of  Captain  of  one 
of  its  independent  military  companies.  Major  Daggett  was 
a  younger  man,  also  a  citizen  of  Utica,  enjoying  its  respect  and 
confidence  and  had  already  seen  service  as  a  commissioned 
officer  in  the  14th  N.  Y.  Volunteers. 

Assistant  Surgeon  In  graham  was  a  practicing  Physician 
and  Surgeon  of  New  London  in  the  town  of  Verona ;  he  had 
followed  his  profession  in  that  locality  for  about  twelve  years. 

Assistant  Surgeon  Carpenter  was  from  the  town  of  Tren 
ton,  a  practicing  physician  of  some  six  or  seven  years  exper 
ience. 

Chaplain  J.  T.  Crippen,  at  the  time  of  his  appointment  was 
Pastor  of  the  Bleeker  Street  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in 
Utica.  The  official  board  of  his  Church  on  the  occasion  of 
his  withdrawal,  passed  resolutions  expressive  of  their  regard  for 
and  confidence  in  him,  and  tendering  him  their  most  cordial 
thanks  for  his  uniform  kindness,  and  fidelity  to  their  moral 
interests,  and  commending  him  for  the  rare  social  qualities  he 
had  uniformly  exhibited  in  his  intercourse  with  others,  and 
promising  in  behalf  of  him  and  his  new  charge  to  follow  him 
with  prayer  to  the  field  of  conflict. 

LINE   OFFICERS. 

Co.  A,  Capt.  Geo.  Brigham,  1st  Lt.  Isaac  Dann,  2nd  Lt.  Wm.  Bartholomew. 

Co.  B,  Capt.  J.  P.  Stone,  1st  Lt. 2nd  Lt.  Wm.  Hurlbert. 

Co.  C,  Capt.  F.  X.  Myer,  1st  Lt.  Jno.  Kerrigan,  2nd  Lt.  F.  H.  Lay. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  117TH  R.   N.   Y.   V.  25 

Co.  D,  Capt.  J.  Walcott,  1st  Lt.  Ed.  H.  Risley,  2nd  Lt.  D.  V.  Magill. 
Co.  E,  Capt.  Levi  R.  Brown,  1st  Lt.  Morris  Chappel,  2nd  Lt.  A.  M.  Erwin. 
Co.  F,  Capt.  Seth  J.  Steves,  1st  Lt.  Wm.  Hunt,  2nd  Lt.  Jno.  F.  Thomas. 
Co.  G,  Capt.  Chs.  H.  Roys,  1st  Lt.  Charles  Millard,  2nd  Lt.  A.  E.  Smith. 
Co.  H,  Capt.  A.  R.  Stevens,  1st  Lt.  Edward  Downer,  2nd  Lt.  Henry  Shedd. 
Co.  I,  Capt.  Charles  Wheelock,  1st  Lt.  Ami  Marquessee,  2nd  Lt.  E.  Haynes. 
Co.  K,  Capt.  Jas.  A.  Race,  1st  Lt.  Linus  R.  Clark,  2nd  Lt.  Samuel  Miller. 

NON-COMMISSIONED  STAFF,  CONSISTED  OF, 

Henry  N.  Marchisi,  Hospital  Steward. 
Milton  Brayton,  Sergeant-Major. 
Edward  Richards,  Quarter-Master  Sergeant. 
Benjamin  Miller,  Commissary  Sergeant. 

John  Nellis  of  Whitesboro,  was  selected  as  Sutler. 

Immediately  on  the  completion  of  the  muster,  the  Colonel, 
by  telegraph  to  the  War  Department,  reported  the  Regiment 
ready  for  the  field,  whereupon  he  received  an  order  to  move 
on  the  22nd  and  report  at  Washington. 


26  HISTORY   OF   THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V. 


CHAPTER    II. 
FROM  ROME  TO  WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 

Departure  from  Rome  August  22nd. — Incidents. — The  stop  at  Utica. — Judge 
Bacon's  Address. -^-Response  by  Col.  Pease. — Incidents. — Arrival  of  the  Regi 
ment  at  Albany. — Embarkation  on  a  Novel  Transport. — A  quiet  Night. — 
Progress. — A  Fine  Morning. — Greetings  from  inhabitants  and  travelers. — 
Landing  at  Jersey  City. — a  non  reception. — Take  cars. — Night's  ride. — Arrival 
at  Philadelphia. — Warm  reception,  and  sumptuous  fare. — Take  cars  for  Balti 
more. — Arrival. — Kindly  received  and  well  cared  for.— An  incident. — Take 
cars  for  Washington. — Arrival. 

THE  22nd  day  of  August,  1862,  though  tinged  with  sadness, 
was  a  proud  day  for  old  Oneida.  Already  had  her  sons,  to 
the  number  of  three  Regiments,  gone  forward  to  the  field 
where  they  were  doing  honorable  battle  in  the  service  of  their 
country,  and  now,  in  less  than  one  month,  from  her  fields  ripe 
with  the  golden  harvest,  from  her  work-shops  vocal  with  the 
1mm  of  business,  from  her  counting  rooms,  her  halls  of 
education  and  her  learned  professions,  she  had  sent  up  her 
earnest  stalwart  men  to  the  number  of  more  than  one  thou 
sand,  and  with  genuine  glowing  patriotism,  consecrated  them 
on  the  altar  of  their  country  and  freedom,  and  on  this  day 
was  to  bid  them  farewell  and  extend  to  them  a  parting  bles 
sing. 

In  obedience  to  an  order  from  the  War  Department,  re 
quiring  the  regiment  to  move  on  this  day,  an  order  was  pub 
lished  making  11  o'clock  the  hour  of  departure.  For  two 
days  previous,  the  signs  of  preparation  had  been  apparent  on 


HISTORY   OF   THE   117TH   B.    N.    Y.   V.  27 

every  hand.  Men  in  large  numbers,  who  had  been  absent  on 
short  furloughs,  looking  after  business  which  had  been  inter 
rupted  by  their  withdrawal,  and  to  take  a  last  fond  look  at 
"loved  ones  at  home"  were  returning,  bringing  with  them,  in 
many  instances  friends,  who  were  to  remain,  until  the  final 
parting.  People  from  the  several  towns  in  the  county  thronged 
the  village  streets,  and  crowded  the  camp  ground. 

Greetings  arid  partings  were  witnessed  on  all  sides,  and  at 
all  hours,  all  of  them  tender  and  many  affecting,  yet  every 
where  was  maintained  the  quietness  and  dignity  of  manner 
which  should  characterize  the  occasion. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  22nd,  an  unusual  commotion 
became  manifest.  What  camp  equipage  there  was  on  hand, 
including  the  medical  stores,  which  had  just  arrived  and  had 
not  been  unpacked,  were  hurried  off  to  the  depot ;  knapsacks 
were  unpacked,  with  care,  but  not  to  the  exclusion  of  many 
little  tokens  of  love  and  affection,  which  were  snugly  tucked 
away  with  the  rest,  the  owner  enjoying  a  blissful  ignorance  o 
the  inconsistency  of  these  arrangements  with  the  stern  reali 
ties  of  war.  At  10  o'clock  the  Regiment  was  assembled  on 
the  parade  ground  of  the  camp,  when  prayer  was  offered  to 
the  Throne  of  Grace  by  the  Rev.  James  Irwin.  He  com 
mended  them  earnestly  to  the  care  of  the  God  of  Hosts.  Im 
mediately  at  the  close,  the  order  of  march  was  formed,  and, 
escorted  by  the  Ganes  Voort  Light  Guard,  commanded  by 
Capt.  Rowe,  proceeded  to  the  depot.  As  the  line  moved 
down  the  street,  a  vast  concourse  proceeded  in  company,  cov 
ering  the  walks  and  the  portion  of  the  streets  not  occupied 
by  the  blue  clad  column. 

From  doors,  windows,  steps  and  balconies  on  either  side  of 
the  street  came  many  a  cheering  salutation.     Handkerchiefs 


28  HISTORY   OF   THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V. 

waved  a  Godspeed,  while  cheer  upon  cheer  rolled  from  a 
hundred  throats. 

Soon  after  reaching  the  depot,  the  word  from  the  conductor 
"All  aboard"  was  passed  down  the  train,  the  last  hand  shak 
ing  was  soon  had,  the  last  "  God  bless  you  "  was  soon  pro 
nounced  ;  the  multitude  reluctantly  stepped  back,  the  men 
sprang  to  their  seats,  the  steam  whistle  uttered  its  shrill  sig 
nal,  and  instantly,  the' long  train,  consisting  of  four  freight 
cars  and  twenty  two  passenger  coaches,  sped  away  on  its  im 
portant  mission. 

At  Oriskany  and  Whitesboro  similar  expressions  of  appro 
val  and  sympathy  were  furnished  by  the  citizens,  who  stood 
at  the  depots,  but  the  final  and  crowning  demonstration 
awaited  the  regiment  at  Utica ;  there  the  space  in  front,  and 
east  of  the  depot,  for  many  yards,  was  occupied  by  a  vast 
multitude,  numbering  thousands.  As  the  train  stopped,  there 
went  up  a  cheer,  which  made  the  heavenly  arches  ring.  The 
crowd  soon  distributed  itself  along  on  either  side  of  the  train, 
while  the  soldiers,  from  the  windows,  exchanged  with  friends, 
a  few  parting  words.  Meanwhile,  the  old  Utica  Band,  stationed 
on  the  roof  of  the  depot,  discoursed  stirring  music,  while  the 
volunteers  laughed,  cheered  and  shouted  like  a  party  just  re 
turning  from  a  pleasure  excursion. 

In  the  few  minutes  spent  here,  the  officers  were  called  out 
and  addressed  as  follows,  by  Judge  W.  J.  Bacon. 

"Col.  Pease,  Lt.  Col.  White  and  Maj.  Daggett: 

As  the  organ  of  the  Military  Committee  of  Oneida  County, 

I  am  commissioned  to  give  you  the  parting  hand  and  offer 

you  our  thanks  and  congratulations.     This  shall  be  done  in 

the  briefest  space,  for  neither  time  nor  the  occasion  admits,  or 


HISTORY  OF  THE  117TH  R.   N.   Y.   V.  29 

requires  many  words.  We  rejoice  that  your  efforts  have  been< 
crowned  with  such  distinguished  success.  You  stand  at  the 
head  of  a  noble  band  of  men,  going  forth  on  a  noble  errand,, 
you  are  to  join  the  brave  men,  our  sons  and  brethren,  now  ia< 
the  field,  prepared  to  do,  and  if  need  be,  to  die  for  your  country. 

The  raising  of  the  Fourth  Oneida  Regiment  has  been  no. 
holiday  work.  On  the  part  of  the  Committee  it  has,  for  the 
most  part,  been  a  labor  of  love,  but  on  yours,  it  has  required 
great  patience,  untiring  energy  and  earnest  patriotism,  and. 
all  these  we  have  found  in  you,  and  for  this  we  express  our 
warmest  thanks. 

You  are  now  on  your  way  to  the  seat  of  war,  and  our 
hopes,  our  blessings,  and  our  prayers  go  with  you.  We  have 
no  other  injunction  to  give,  than  that  everywhere  and  always, 
you  maintain  the  honor  and  the  good  name  of  old  Oneida,. 
and,  when  you  meet  the  foes  of  the  Republic,  strike  quickly, 
strike  strongly,  strike  often.  As  the  results  of  the  efforts  of 
each  and  all  of  you,  and  of  every  faithful  patriot,  we  confi 
dently  expect  to  see  our  beloved  land,  in  all  its  length  and 
breadth,  restored  and  consecrated  forevermore,  as  the  land  of 
Government  and  Law,  of  order,  and  of  universal  liberty. 

We  commend  you  to  the  favor  of  the  God  of  Hosts  and,, 
may  He  give  you  the  courage  and  the  grace  to  contribute 
your  full  share  to  the  great  consummation.  On  behalf  of  the 
Committee  I  bid  you,  one  and  all,  a  hearty  and  affectionate 
farewell." 

Col.  Pease,  in  response,  expressed  gratification  that  any 
thing  he  and  his  associates  had  done,  was  deemed  worthy  of 
commendation.  They  were  now  only  on  their  way  to  begin 
their  labors,  and  he  felt  confident,  that  the  Fourth  Oneida 

Regiment  was  composed  of  men   who,  wherever    placed, 
3 


30  HISTORY   OF  THE  117TH   E.    N.   Y.   V. 

would  act  a  manly  part  and  never  cause  a  blush  to  the  gen 
erous  people,  who  had  sent  them  forth  with  so  many  manifest 
ations  of  interest  and  affection.  When,  thanking  the 
Committee  and  its  associates  for  their  friendly  expressions,  he 
would  not  make  a  boast  of  the  future,  but  trusted  the  acts 
of  the  regiment  would  reward  all  who  had  labored  for  its 
organization.  It  goes  forth  on  the  highest  mission  that  can 
engage  free  men,  and  the  defense  of  free  institutions  against 
a  causeless,  a  wicked,  a  malignant  rebellion.  May  it  soon 
return,  bearing,  as  the  results  of  the  courage  and  endurance 
of  a  great  army,  of  which  it  will  constitute  a  humble,  but  I 
ttrust  an  active  part,  a  victory  that  shall  be  glorious  and  the 
basis  of  a  lasting  peace. 

Lieut.  Col.  White,  added  a  few  pertinent  words,  when 
Col.  James  McQuade  of  the  14th  N.  Y.  Volunteers  stepped 
upon  the  platform  of  one  of  the  cars,  and,  in  a  few  words, 
expressed  his  entire  confidence  in  the  Regiment  and  pro 
posed  for  it  three  cheers  which  were  given  by  the  multitude 
with  a  will.     Col.  Pease,  then  proposed  three  for  the  14th  N. 
Y.  Volunteers,  which   sentiment   was  endorsed  with  equal 
emphasis.       While    these   acclamations   were   again   awak 
ing  the  echoes,  the  train  departed,  freighted  with  as  many,  if 
not  more  of  the  hopes  and  interests  of  the  people  of  Oneida 
County,  than  any  that  had  ever  before  left  its  borders.     It 
was  1.40  o'clock  P.  M.,  when  the  train  moved  out,  and  the 
anxious  multitude  closed  over  the  vacant  track.     The  journey 
to  Albany  was  accomplished  without  accident  or  without  re 
markable  incident  by  about  10  o'clock.     The  lateness  of  our 
arrival  prevented  the  good  people  of  the  capital  city  from 
giving  the  regiment  the  reception  they  had  purposed.     They 
did  however  the  next  best  thing  in  their  power,  roll  into 


HISTORY  OF  THE   117TH  R.   N.    Y.    V.  81 

the  boats  on  which  the  regiment  embarked,  barrels  of  sand 
wiches,  crackers,  buiscuits  and  cookies,  which  served  to  relieve 
the  men,  from  a  somewhat  protracted  fast,  and  furnished 
them  with  refreshments  as  they  steamed  down  the  Hudson. 

By  11  o'clock  the  Regiment  was  on  board  the  vessels  which 
had  been  assigned  as  the  transport  for  the  occasion;  it  con 
sisted  of  a  steamboat  and  two  barges,  one  of  the  latter  lashed 
on  either  side  of  the  former.  It  being  late,  and  the  men  be 
ing  weary,  each  soon  spread  his  blanket  on  the  inhospitable 
deck,  and,  laying  his  knapsack  down  for  a  pillow,  he  assumed 
that  this  meagre  preparation  was  his  bed,  and  used  it  accord 
ingly.  The  day  having  been  one  of  continued  excitement 
and  confusion,  all  gladly  availed  themselves  of  an  obvious 
inclination  for  quiet. 

Is  it  reasonable  to  conclude  that  all  sought  sleep  ?  Was 
not  this  opportunity  rather  seized  by  each  as  a  coveted  mental 
retreat  from  the  society  of  present  and  esteemed  comrades,  and 
improved  in  a  review  of  the  blissful  days  spent  at  that  loved 
home  from  which  he  was  now,  under  such  strange  and  pecul 
iar  circumstances,  receding  ?  And  as  they  recalled  the  num 
berless  manifestations  of  home  sympathy,  did  they  not,  on  that 
night  more  than  ever  realize,  and  admire  the  disinterested 
devotion  of  mother,  wife  and  sister  ? 

It  is  also  safe  to  suppose  that  there  were  many  there,  whose 
minds  naturally  reverted  to 

"  Another,  not  a  sister." 

All  the  circumstances  considered,  was  not  the  night  of  the 
22nd  Augusy  1862,  a  remarkable  one  for  the  117th  ?  Was  it 
not  a  suitable  time  for  reflective  and  prospective  meditation  ? 
Who  shall  say  it  was  not  diligently  improved  ? 


32  HISTORY   OF   THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V. 

Before  morning,  the  audible  respirations  and  careless  atti 
tudes  betrayed  the  fact  that  a  goodly  portion  of  the  command 
had  surrendered  to  "balmy  sleep." 

Soon  after  daylight,  the  singular  army  transport,  with  its 
crowd  of  loyal  passengers,  began  to  attract  the  attention  of  the 
inhabitants  on  both  banks  of  the  river,  exciting  on  every  hand 
the  most  marked  demonstrations  of  approval.  Reapers 
paused,  threw  up  their  hats,  and  shouted  their  endorsement ; 
the  ploughman  stopped  his  team  and  waved  his  hat.  Families 
gathered  at  the  doors  and  unfurled  the  miniature  flag.  Trav 
elers  in  the  cars,  which  shot  shuttle-like  between  our  capital  and 
the  great  metropolis,  waved  handkerchiefs  from  the  windows  in 
approval  of  our  loyal  attitude.  Groups  of  children,  came  run- 
ing,  to  the  wharfs,  exhibiting  many  signs  of  hearty  appre 
ciation.  These  were  indeed  encouraging  proofs  of  an  all- 
pervading  sympathy. 

To  all  of  these  expressions,  the  boys  returned  suitable  and 
equally  earnest  response.  Never  did  the  grand  old  Hudson 
appear  grander  than  on  this  superbly  beautiful  day,  and  rarely 
if  ever,  had  she  borne  a  more  important  burden,  or  one  with 
a  more  glorious  mission. 

Between  four  and  five  o'clock  on  the  afternoon  of  the  23rd, 
the  regiment  was  landed  on  the  wharf  at  Jersey  City,  and, 
•  though  several  men  were  seriously  ill  of  cholera  morbus, 
all  left  the  boats  and  got  on  board  the  cars,  which  were  to 
take  them  to  Philadelphia,  to  which  place  they  were  forwarded 
the  same  night  by  two  trains ;  six  companies  occupying  the 
first,  and  four  the  last.  The  first  train  leaving  about  six 
o'clock,  the  other  about  eight. 

The  supply  of  rations  had  failed  before  reaching  Jersey 
City:  and  the  men  were  beginning  to  suffer  from  hunger, 


HISTORY   OF  THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V.  33 

and,  as  the  weather  was  intensely  warm,  not  less  from  thirst. 
But  no  welcome  greeted  these  volunteer  defenders  of  Lib 
erty.  No  table  was  there  spread  for  their  refreshment. 
No  kind  hands  extended  delicacies  to  revive  the  fainting. 
Even  the  water  which  they  were  able  to  obtain,  was  furnished 
at  the  price  of  two  cents  a  glass,  and  small  articles  laid  down 
for  a  moment  were  stolen  by  the  greedy  crew  of  thieves  that 
gathered  around. 

Gladly  would  these  facts,  disgraceful  to  any  American  city 
have  been  omitted  from  these  pages,  for  it  is  to  be  hoped  and 
believed  that  there  are  patriotic  men  and  women  in  Jersey 
city ;  but,  the  indignation  then  felt  and  freely  expressed  by 
the  men,  and  their  distinct  recollection  not  merely  of  the 
obvious  neglect  but  of  the  imposition  they  were  there  sub 
jected  to,  forbid  it. 

A  night's  ride,  in  a  crowded  state,  fasting  and  unrefreshed 
by  sleep,  brought  us  to  Philadelphia.  The  first  train  about 
three,  and  the  other  about  five  o'clock  on  Sunday  morning. 

The  firing  of  a  single  cannon  announced  the  arrival  of  each 
train,  and,  immediately  a  committee  presented  themselves  and 
escorted  the  regiment  to  the  Union  Head  Quarters,  which  was 
so  faithfully  guarded  that  baggage  could  be  left  in  safety  in 
any  convenient  place.  Water  for  all  was  provided,  not  only 
for  drinking  purposes,  but  in  abundance  for  the  much  needed, 
customary  ablutions.  All  were  in  just  the  condition  to  prize 
this  convenience.  Had  this  been  the  only  favor  extended  in 
that  city,  it  would  have  been  gratefully  remembered ;  but, 
there  were  other  expressions  of  good  will  awaiting  us. 
Though  it  was  an  early  hour  of  the  day,  and  at  the  time  of 
our  arrival  another  regiment  was  receiving  attention,  the 
men  were  hardly  prepared  for  their  breakfast  before  the  tables 


34  HISTORY  OP  THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.   V. 

were  reset  and  the  regiment  invited  into  a  spacious  dining 
saloon  where  it  was  directed  to  sit  down  at  a  table,  spread, 
not  only  with  substantial,  but  also  with  tempting  luxuries. 

The  sick  were  immediately  taken  to  a  large  airy  room 
well  supplied  with  comfortable  cots ;  those  unable  to  walk 
were  placed  on  stretchers  and  carried  to  the  apartments  where 
kind  hearts  and  gentle  hands  furnished  every  delicacy  that 
patriotism  and  benevolence  could  suggest  or  money  pro 
cure.  A  dispensary,  well  filled  with  every  needful  remedial 
means  was  free  to  the  surgeons,  and  a  large  and  excellent 
hospital,  visited  daily  by  the  best  physicians,  was  open  for  the 
admittance  of  all  such  as  were  too  ill  to  proceed.  It  may 
truly  be  said,  that  there  was  no  want  which  had  not 
been  anticipated  and  abundantly  provided  against.  There  is 
no  A)om  to  doubt,  that  more  than  one  valuable  life  was  saved, 
to  the  regiment  and  to  the  country,  by  the  timely  and  gener 
ous  succor  extended  to  the  men  on  that  occasion  by  the  good 
people  of  Philadelphia.  Her  patriotic  sons,  and  her  hand 
some,  good-samaritan  daughters  will  be  long  held  in  grateful 
remembrance  for  their  fraternal  demonstrations  to  the  117th. 
When  the  regiment  left  that  goodly  City,  doubly  entitled  to 
be  called  the  City  of  Brotherly  Love,  it  was  with  emphatic  and 
repeated  expressions  of  "Heaven  bless  this  City." 

By  7  o'clock  the  regiment  was  packed  on  board  a  train  of 
freight  cars,  and  started  for  Baltimore.  This  Sunday  journey 
was  indeed  a  quiet  one,  it  was  made  with  few  or  no  interrup 
tions  ;  we  received  no  cordial  greetings  from  way-side  citizens, 
and  there  was  no  cheering  by  the  men. 

Arrived  at  Baltimore  about  5  o'clock,  P.  M. ;  remained  sev 
eral  hours. 

Our  peaceful  passage  through  that  city  was  disturbed  by 


HISTORY   OP  THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V.  85 

only  one  treasonable  manifestation.  As  the  regiment  was 
marching  through  a  principal  street,  in  the  most  complete 
order,  a  well  dressed  female  uttered,  in  our  hearing,  the  hell- 
born  wish  that "  not  one  of  the  regiment  would  live  to  return ; " 
that  was  the  most  conspicious,  if  not  the  only  insult  offered 
us  in  the  city. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  regiment  was  well  entertained ;  a 
generous  supper  was  furnished  at  the  Union  Rooms,  quite  to 
the  extent  of  our  wants.  In  fact,  the  attentions  there  extended 
to  us,  were  second  only  to  those  received  at  Philadelphia. 
Let  those  who,  in  Baltimore,  afforded  us  such  ample  hos 
pitality,  be  long  remembered. 

At  quite  a  late  hour  of  the  night,  the  regiment  took  the  cars 
for  Washington,  where  it  arrived  not  long  after  midnight  of 
the  morning  of  the  25th.  We  found  shelter  and  "plain lodg 
ings"  on  the  floor  of  some  extensive  barracks  near  the  depot. 


36  HISTORY  OF  THE   117TH   R.   N.    Y.   V. 


CHAPTER   III. 

FROM  WASHINGTON  DEPOT,  TO   DEPARTURE  FROM 
FORT  ALEXANDER. 

The  Capital  and  the  Capitol. — Pennsylyania  Avenue. — Long  Bridge. — "Why  the 
Regiment  did  not  cross. — March  to  Tennally  Town. — Premature  gun  shot 
wounds. — A  Tentless  Camp  1 — Tennally  Town. — Advance  to  Chain  Bridge 
but  no  engagement. — Return  to  Camp  ground  in  Grove. — Move  to  Ft.  Penn 
sylvania. — Battle  hetween  Pope  and  Stonewall  Jackson. — Remove  from  Fort 
1  Pennsylvania  to  Fort  Alexander. — Duty  at  the  latter  place. 

THE  morning  of  the  25th  of  August  found  the  men  unre- 
freshed  by  one  moment  of  comfortable  rest,  under  the  shadow 
of  the  capitol  of  the  nation,  which  had  for  so  many  years 
been  the  scene  of  turmoil  and  strife,  resulting  not  unfre- 
quently  in  violence,  and  even  in  bloodshed,  and  from  which 
had  issued  both  clandestinely  and  publicly,  so  many  inflam 
matory  and  incendiary  appeals,  and  all  or  nearly  in  a  vain 
endeavor  to  put  down  the  Spirit  of  Liberty. 

They  looked  upon  this  grand  and  stately  structure,  with 
feelings  of  patriotic  pride  and  veneration.  They  regarded 
it  as  having  been,  both  by  the  blood  of  our  revolutionary 
fathers,  and  by  the  bond  of  the  constitution,  consecrated  to 
the  holy  cause  of  human  freedom ;  while  they  knew  too,  that 
in  its  sacred  apartments  had  been  concocted  the  horrid  plot 
of  secession,  which  was  itself,  designed  as  the  handmaid  and 
champion  of  a  galling  social  despotism.  They  knew  that  men 


HISTORY  OF  THE  117TH  R.    N.    Y.   V.  37 

who  had  been  fostered,  exalted  and  pampered  by  a  too  indul 
gent  government,  had  treacherously  perjured  their  own 
souls,  insolently  betrayed  their  trust,  and  gone  forth  from 
those  congressional  Halls  to  drench  the  land  in  blood. 

With  this  knowledge,  and  under  the  inspiration  of  the  sur 
roundings,  these  men  here  consecrated  themselves  afresh  to 
the  cause  in  which  they  had  enlisted,  and,  with  increased  en 
ergy,  devoted  themselves  to  its  triumph. 

In  one  of  the  barracks,  there  had  been  provided  some  very 
coarse  and  poorly  prepared  refreshments,  of  which  the  men 
were  invited  to  partake ;  a  privilege  which  they  very  generally 
declined,  nearly  all  preferring  the  uncertain  chances  presented 
in  the  street. 

At  about  10  o'clock  the  Regiment  was  formed  and  put  on 
its  march  up  Pennsylvania  Avenue,  accompanied  by  several 
army  wagons.  The  latter  conveyed  the  heterogeneous  burden 
of  regimental  baggage,  the  knapsacks  of  weak-kneed  volun 
teers,  of  whom  we  had  a  few,  together  with  the  men  who  fell 
out  by  the  way,  unable  to  keep  pace  with  their  fellows. 

These  wagons  excited  the  curiosity,  and  to  some  extent  the 
merriment  of  our  young  farmers  and  mechanics.  As  few  peo 
ple  of  the  north  have  any  idea  of  their  character,  a  few  words 
descriptive  may  not  be  amiss.  They  are  coarse-made,  very 
ponderous  and  long-geared,  with  a  high  heavy  box  fastened  to 
the  axle  and  head  block,  and  spanned  with  rude  bows  which 
are  covered  with  thick  canvass  or  tent  cloth,  capable  of  being 
drawn  together  at  either  end.  While  there  were  some  ad 
vantages  connected  with  those  ungainly  concerns,  the  keen 
mechanics  and  their  practical  patrons  in  the  regiment,  failed 
to  discover  the  occasion  for  their  remarkable  bulk. 

Very  few  single  teams,  after  being  attached  to  one  of  those 


HISTORY  OF  THE   117TH  R.    N.    Y.    V. 

wagons,  can  bear  any  additional  load.  They,  therefore, 
usually  hitch  on  one  pair  of  horses  or  mules  to  draw  the 
wagon,  and  another  pair  .or  more  to  draw  the  load.  The 
wagons  furnished  us  on  this  occasion,  were  drawn  each  by 
four  mules,  driven  by  a  contraband  astride  the  near  wheel 
mule,  who  drove  the  entire  team,  with  one  rein,  a  whip  and 
his  everlasting  "  Yeop!  Mule,  Get!" 

Pennsylvania  Avenue,  justly  celebrated  as  one  the  most 
beautiful  and  airy  city  thoroughfares,  on  that  day  presented 
an  appearance  that  defies  description.  The  spacious  and  ordi 
narily  ample  sidewalks  were  now  crowded  with  a  diverse 
crowd.  There  were  officers  of  every  rank ;  some  walk 
ing  hurriedly,  more  sauntering  leisurely ;  soldiers  in  blue, 
some  with  knapsacks,  plodding  their  way  to  their  regi 
ments,  some  strolling  about  without  an  apparent  aim,  some 
on  crutches,  others  with  arms  in  slings ;  gentlemen  of  busi 
ness,  gentlemen  of  leisure,  and  gentlemen  of  color,  and  gen 
tlemen  and  ladies  of  complexion  intermediate,  and  a  liberal 
sprinkling  of  the  class  bearing  the  stamp  of  genuine  "  contra 
band  ;"  and  females  of  every  known  hue,  and  the  representa 
tives  of  every  social  grade  ;  and  here  and  there  the  news  boys, 
at  the  top  of  their  voices  crying,  "Tribune,  Herald,  Times, 
Morning  papers,"  "Great  battle  on  the  James,"  "Pope  march 
ing  on  Richmond,"  <fcc.,  &c.  At  every  crossing,  sat  mounted, 
armed  and  heavily-spurred  patrols,  ready  for  an  emergency. 

The  regiment  marching  in  the  street  was  soon  lost  in  the 
thick  clouds  of  dust  whch  were  raised  by  it  and  by  numberless 
other  agencies  with  which  we  seemed  inextricably  intermix 
ed.  '  There  were  street  cars,  a  continuous  stream  of  army 
wagons  on  either  side  of  the  avenue,  one  going  up,  the  other 
coming  down,  some  with  two  horses,  marked  C.  S.,  more 


HISTORY  OF  THE  117TH   R.   N.    Y.   V.       ,  39 

with  four  or  six  horses  or  mules,  marked  IT.  S.  These  files, 
by  an  order  from  the  war  department,  could  not  be  broken  by 
street  crossings,  except  at  every  sixth  wagon.  These  trans 
portation  trains  were  under  charge  of  wagon-masters,  who 
were  consequentially  riding  from  one  part  of  the  line  to  an 
other,  often  furiously,  and  not  unfrequently  indulging  in  lan 
guage,  which  good  people  would  have  found  difficult  to  dis 
tinguish  from  profanity.  There  were  other  vehicles  of  every 
kind,  private  carriages,  cabs,  coaches,  'hackney  coaches,  carts, 
teams  with  loads,  and  some  without  loads,  four-horse  express 
teams,  ambulances,  mostly  loaded  with  officers,  (a  nuisance 
soon  after  abated  by  a  general  order,)  large  carts,  sometimes 
by  the  boys  styled  "horse  ambulances,"  gotten  up  for  the  ex 
press  purpose,  and  loaded  with  dead  horses  and  mules  ;  gangs 
of  sick  and  dilapidated  horses,  squads  of  fresh  horses,  clus 
ters  of  mules,  some  willing,  many  obstinate  ;  sections  of  bat 
teries,  squads  and  companies  of  soldiers,  some  of  infantry, 
some  of  cavalry  ;  and  in  the  midst  of  all,  hurrying  by  alt  all 
points,  were  mounted  messengers  and  orderlies,  on  foaming 
steeds :  altogether  presented  an  exciting  spectacle,  which 
should  be  witnessed  to  be  appreciated. 

The  thoughtful  volunteer  was  led  to  inquire,  "  Why  all 
this  commotion  ?"  "Why  these  warlike  .agencies  in  the  capi 
tal  of  the  nation ;  of  this  the  happiest  nation  in  the  world  ? 
This  nation,  whose  people  govern  themselves  ;  a  nation  in 
which  all  legislative  and  executive  powers  proceed  from  the 
head  and  hand  of  the  humble  as  well  as  of  the  greater  of  its 
constituents,  every  sixth  year.  This  nation,  whose  govern 
ment  had  been  so  beneficent  as  to  be  felt  in  its  blessings  only, 
which  have  descended  like  the  dews  of  heaven,  so  gently  as  to 
be  noticeable  only  in  their  refreshing  influences.  Why  does 


40  t      HISTORY   OF   THE   117TH   B.    N.    Y.    V. 

grim  visaged  war  raise  his  hideous  head  in  this  heaven-favored 
land  ?" 

These  clear  headed  and  intelligent  volunteers,  fresh  from 
the  pure  air  of  their  northern  homes,  knew,  but  too  well,  that 
to  this  question  there  was  but  one  answer.  Slavery,  like  a 
deadly  Upas,  had  been  planted  beside  the  tree  of  Liberty. 

The  Regiment  left  the  Avenue  for  a  short  time  at  Four 
teenth  street,  and  marched  to  Long  bridge  which  leads  into 
Virginia,  over  which,  it  was  understood,  we  would  have  passed 
but  for  the  circumstance,  that  the  bridge,  for  some  reason,  on 
that  day  was  impassable.  Here  was  another  illustration  of  the 
influence,  apparently  unimportant  circumstances  exert  over 
the  history  and  fate  of  such  organizations.  The  Col.  had  re 
ported  to  Gen.  Casey,  who  at  that  time  had  charge  of  all  arriv 
ing  regiments.  We  halted  near  his  Head-quarters :  By 
him  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  camp  at  Tennally  Town  in 
the  District,  on  the  north  side  of  the  Potomac,  the  Col.  being 
directed  to  report  to  Gen.  Barnard,  of  United  States  Engi 
neers,  Engineer-in-Chief  for  the  defenses  of  Washington. 

While  waiting  for  this  order,  one  of  the  men  was  wounded 
in  the  neck  by  a  bullet  from  a  revolver  in  the  hands  of  a  care 
less  comrade.  The  wounded  man  was  taken  to  Seminary 
Hospital  at  Georgetown,  where  he  remained  several  weeks. 
As  he  well  might,  he  deemed  himself  lucky  even  then," to 
return  with  his  life,  for  the  bullet  had  passed  fearfully  near 
the  jugular. 

A  similar  accident  occurred  on  the  following  morning  after 
the  regiment  got  into  camp  at  Tennally  Town,  with  the  differ 
ence  that  in  the  latter  case,  the  careless  man  was  also  his 
victim.  He  paid  for  his  stupidity  by  a  perforation  of  the 
hand.  This  not  being  exactly  the  way  in  which  it  was  expect- 


HISTORY   OF   THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V.       •  41 

ed  men  would  be  shot,  an'  order  was  issued  prohibiting  the 
men  from  carrying  that  class  of  arms,  but  allowing  their  de 
posit  with  their  officers,  and  the  taking  of  a  receipt  for  the 
return  of  the  same  when  the  regiment  should  be  disbanded. 

The  march  from  Gen.  Casey's  Head-quarters  to  Tennally 
Town,  a  distance  of  nearly  nine  miles,  was  commenced  about 
noon,  under  a  burning  sun,  and  without  dinner.  As  the  boys 
had  assumed  the  transportation  of  a  large  amount  of  surplus 
baggage,  the  march  taxed  to  the  utmost  their  powers  of  en 
durance,  and,  in  several  instances,  proved  entirely  too  much. 
Arrived  at  Tennally  Town  between  four  and  five  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon.  The  Quartermaster  being  able  to  furnish 
rations,  the  men,  without  delay,  set  themselves  to  work  pre 
paring,  as  best  they  could,  something  to'eat.  No  tents  how 
ever,  except  one  hospital  tent,  were  yet  furnished  ;  the  men 
were  therefore  obliged  to  camp  on  the  ground  in  the  open 
air  for  the  night,  an  occurrence  somewhat  common  in  army 
life,  but  in  this  case  peculiarly  unfortunate  after  the  excessive 
heat  and  labor  of  the  day,  as  was  shown  on  the  following 
morning  by  a  large  increase  of  sickness. 

Tennally  Town  is  a  small  plain  village,  situated  at  the 
junction  of  the  Edwards'  Ferry  and  Harper's  Ferry  Turnpikes, 
about  four  miles  westerly  from  Georgetown.  It  consisted  of 
a  few  dwellings,  one  hotel,  a  blacksmith  shop  and  a  plain 
church  edifice.  It  had  formerly  supported  some  of  the  slave 
holding  gentry,  most  of  whom,  however,  fled  on  the  approach 
of  the  Union  army.  It  appeared  that  the  church  belonged  to 
the  Methodist  persuasion.  It  was  beautifully  located  at  the 
head  of  an  oak  grove  which  covered  several  acres,  sloping 
gently  westward  from  the  village.  Along  the  more  elevated 
portion  of  the  grove,  the  regiment  encamped,  the  meeting 


42  HISTORY  OF  THE  117TH  R.   N.   Y.   V. 

b 

house  being  used  for  Commissary  and  Quartermasters  store 
house.  The  village  was  surrounded  by  unfinished  rifle  pits, 
which,  with  the  vicinity,  were  occupied  by  his  troops  during 
McClellan's  siege  of  Washington  ! 

On  the  26th  the  tents  arrived.  They  were  arranged  after 
the  manner  of  a  village,  on  this  well-shaded  inclined  plain, 
and  for  one  day  the  men  felt  quite  at  home.  The  comfort  of 
quietness  was  however  transient,  for  on  the  night  of  the 
27th,  the  regiment  was  roused  by  the  beating  of  the  long 
roll,  and  in  a  very  few  minutes  was  formed  and  started 
on  a  march  for  Chain  Bridge.  The  bridge  is  about  three 
miles  distant,  in  a  southerly  direction.  The  regiment  was 
supplied  with  ammunition  in  the  exigency  by  the  71st  New 
York  State  Militia.'  On  the  way,  Col.  Haskins,  A.  D.  C.  to 
Gen.  Barnard,  informed  Col.  Pease  that  a  large  force  of  the 
enemy  had  appeared  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Potomac,  near 
Ft.  Ethan  Allen,  which  was  the  only  defense  to  this  bridge. 
It  was  feared  that  by  a  sudden  dash,  the  enemy  might  possess 
themselves  of  this  crossing.  Accordingly  the  117th  Eegt., 
and  a  New  York  Battery  were  required  to  defend  it.  Col. 
Pease  was  directed,  on  his  arrival,  to  mine  the  abutments 
and  authorized  to  destroy  the  bridge,  whenever,  in  his  judg 
ment,  the  emergency  should  warrant  such  a  proceeding. 

Daylight  came  soon  after  we  reached  the  place.  The  morn 
ing  wore  off,  and  with  it  evidently,  the  danger,  for  at  noon  we 
received  orders  to  return  to  camp,  which  we  did  immediately. 
Thus  ended  a  diversion,  which  was  often  afterward  facetiously 
alluded  to  as  the  Battle  of  Chain  Bridge.  There  were  none 
killed,  none  wounded,  but  it  was  well  known  that  on  the 
march  down,  two  or  three  got  severely  frightened. 

We  had  scarcely  reached  our  camp  in  the  grove  before  we 


HISTORY   OF  THE   117TH  R.   N.    Y.    V.  43 

received  an  order  to  remove  quarters  to  Ft.  Pennsylvania,  a 
distance  of  less  than  half  a  mile.  The  work  of  moving  was  not 
itself  an  evil,  but,  by  this  change  we  were  deprived  of  the 
shelter  afforded  us  by  the  grove,  our  new  camping  ground 
being  destitute  of  tree  or  shrub.  We  removed  the  same 
afternoon.  After  a  sojourn  of  only  a  day  or  two  at  Ft.  Penn 
sylvania,  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  change  again.  This 
time,  required  to  remove  about  four  miles  westward,  for  the 
purpose  of  garrisoning  Ft.  Alexander  and  Fts.  Franklin  and 
Ripley,  the  two  latter  being  in  an  unfinished  state. 

While  the  regiment  was  at  Tennally  Town,  the  battles  be 
tween  Gen.  Pope  and  Stonewall  Jackson  were  going  on. 
During  the  conflict,  we  could  in  the  same  instant,  see  the 
Capitol  and  hear  the  sound  of  light  artillery  employed  by  the 
contending  forces.  Our  removal  to  Ft.  Alexander  took  place 
on  the  30th  day  of  August. 

Fort  Alexander  and  its  supporters,  Franklin  and  Ripley, 
were  all  armed.  These  Forts  were  arranged  in  a  triangle, 
which,  with  their  connecting  fortifications,  formed  nearly 
a  half  circle  on  the  summit  of  a  high  bluff  on  the  north 
bank  of  the  Potomac,  and  commanded  it  for  a  distance  of 
five  or  more  miles,  while  their  guns  could  sweep  the  country 
for  an  equal  distance  in  any  direction.  In  consequence  of  the 
inclination  of  its  bed  and  the  ragged  rocks  upon  it,  the  river 
at  this  point  presents  a  rapid,  while  intervening  it  and  the  far 
reaching  hill  side,  like  a  silver  band,  lies  the  Ohio  and  Chesa 
peake  Canal,  whose  placid  surface  was  then  but  rarely  dis 
turbed  by  a  passing  boat.  The  prominence  of  our  new  camp 
ing  ground  afforded  the  daily  enjoyment  of  scenery  the 
most  grand  and  picturesque.  The  Potomac  with  its  ceaseless 
murmur,  and  the  canal  winding  along  its  bank,  lay  far  below 


44  HISTORY  OF  THE  117TH  E.   N.    Y.    V. 

us,  and  as  the  river  extended  off  through  the  gorge  toward 
the  south-east,  we  could  see  where,  two  miles  distant,  it  was 
spanned  by  Chain  Bridge.  Virginia,  the  Mother  of  Presi 
dents,  and  also  of  the  Harlot,  Slavery,  loomed  up  in  grandeur 
on  the  opposite  side,  while  a  vast  scope,  a  succession  of  hills 
and  knolls,  could  be  seen  from  Alexandria  in  Virginia,  to 
Sugar-loaf  Mountain  in  the  blue  distance  in  Maryland.  Many 
of  the  hill  tops  were  crowned  with  forts,  and  over  each  floated 
the  glorious  old  banner  of  our  country.  The  reveille  and 
tattoo,  waking  patriotic  echoes,  were  answered  from  count 
less  summits  and  hill-sides. 

The  regiment  remained  quietly  here,  doing  guard  and 
fatigue  duty ;  its  detachments  garrisoning  the  smaller  neigh 
boring  forts,  till  near  the  middle  of  November. 


HISTORY  OP  THE    117TH  B.   N.   Y.   V.  45 


CHAPTER    IV. 

FROM    FORT   ALEXANDER,  TO   FORTS   BAKER   AND, 

RIPLEY. 

Regiment  strike  Tents  at  Fort  Alexander. — Removal  to  Camp  Morris  or  "  Camp 
Mud." — A  Strange  Visitor. — Citizens. — Remove  to  the  neighborhood  of  Fort- 
Pennsylvania. — Camp  Morris  No.  2. — The  employment  of  the  Regiment. — Re 
ceipt  of  a  New  Banner  from  Utica,  a  present  from  the  Ladies  of  that  city. — . 
Presentation  Address.— Review  of  Sanitary  condition  of  the  Regiment  since- 
its  arrival  in  the  District. — Social  pastime. — "Joe,"  and  his  amusing  traits.—. 
Order  for  a  division  of  the  Regiment  into  two  Battalions. 

ON  the  12th  of  November,  the  regiment,  having  been  re 
lieved  by  the  18th  Maine,  returned  by  order,  to  an  eminence 
about  midway  between  its  late  camp  and  Fort  Pennsylva 
nia.  The  boys  had  got  things  so  comparitively  comfortable 
and,  the  surroundings  had  begun  to  acquire  such  a  sort  of 
homelike  aspect,  that  the  order  to  move  was  not  acceptable 
as  it  might  have  been.  A  short  march  and  we  reached  the 
place.  But,  for  some  reason,  we  had  got  a  late  start,  the  bag 
gage  came  late,  and  in  consequence,  eight  o'clock  P.  M.  found 
us  in  an  uncomfortable  condition  and  with  a  prospect  so 
cheerless  as  to  render  the  occasion  one  of  frequent  reference 
long  after. 

Although  the  camp  ground  was  eligible,  the  soil  was  of  that 

peculiar  "mixable"   nature  and  the  rains  were  so  frequent 

and  copious,  that  the  streets   were  impressible  as  a  mortar 

bed.     No    one    can    duly  prize    the    power    of  voluntary 

4 


46  HISTORY   OF  THE   117TH  R.    N.   Y.   Y. 

locomotion  till  lie  lias  been  "mud  bound"  in  Virginia  or 
Maryland.  The  shady  valley  where  the  rippling  brook  in 
vites  the  stroller ;  yonder  pyramidal  hill  which  promises 
an  extensive  view  of  the  surrounding  country,  are  now  noth 
ing  more  to  you,  than  to  a  culprit  prisoner  with  a  ten  pound 
weight  to  each  heel.  Whether  you  would  go  abroad  on  busi- 
business  or  pleasure  the  prospect  is  equally  discouraging. 

The  earth,  which  is  sometimes  so  beautiful  and  attractive  is 
now  spread  out  before  you  a  far-reaching,  infinite  "  boot  jack." 

This  camp  was  such  an  unmitigated  slough  that  by  com 
mon  consent  it  was  christened  Camp  "  Mud."  While  here,  the 
Bleu  worked  at  the  defenses  which  may  be  still  seen  there 
furrowing  the  hillocks  and  hill  sides.  Fort  Alexander 
.and  Fort  Pennsylvania  were  both  in  fair  view,  and,  in  exactly 
.opposite  directions. 

One  day,  in  the  direction  of  the  latter  Fort,  was  heard  an 
explosive  report  and  an  omnious  whizzing.  Several  fancied 
they  saw  in  the  same  instant,  a  body  of  some  description  com 
ing  through  the  air;  the  exhibition  ended  with  a  " thump " 
against  the  hill  on  which  our  camp  was  perched  or,  more  properly 
planted.  It  was  clear  that  the  managers  had  "  run  the  thing 
in  the  ground,"  for  when  it  struck,  the  dirt  flew  in  all  direc 
tions.  The  curious  among  the  regiment,  hastened  to  the  spot 
and  there,  behold  !  they  saw  the  hole  protruding.  Some  set  to 
work  eagerly  to  exhume  the  stranger,  when  they  were  re 
called  and  informed  that  the  intruder  was  a  shell  from  a  gun 
in  the  fort,  and,  that,  as  it  was  possibly  charged  and  might  ex 
plode,  they  had  better  keep  away.  After  some  explanation 
.and  considerable  delay,  they  saw  the  point,  and  reluctantly 
withdrew;  that  sort  of  curiosity  they  subsequently  got  the 
better  of.  The  shell  ,had  fallen  dangerously  near  our 


HISTORY   OF   THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V.  47 

camp,  which  was  in  full  view  of  the  gunners  in  the  fort.  At 
first  it  would  seem  that  the  camp  had  been  their  target,  but 
in  those  days,  the  professional  reputation  of  their  artillerists 
was  such  as  to  effectually  exonerate  them  from  any  suspicion 
of  criminal  intent  or  even  of  carelessness.  Everybody  felt 
confident  that  the  gun  had  been  trained  on  an  object  at  least 
a  mile  to  the  right  or  left  of  this  point. 

The  citizens  in  that  section  were  mild  unionists.  There  were 
several  families  in  the  neighborhood  by  the  name  of  Shoe 
maker;  they  were  on  friendly  terms  with  the  Yankees,  and 
they  did  consent  to  board  some  of  the  officers,  "just  to  accom 
modate."  They  could  have  had  no  other  motive,  for  they 
charged  only  three  times  the  usual  price.  There  was  a  Mr.  B. 
there  also,  a  staunch  unionist,  at  least,  he  was  in  the  employ 
of  the  government.  He  and  family  were  on  friendly  terms 
with  our  officers,  but  his  daughter  did  not  furnish  that  thanks 
giving  dinner ! !  After  being  there  about  a  week,  the  regiment 
literally  "pulled  out"  of  Camp  mud,  and  returned  to  within 
less  than  half  a  mile  of  Fort  Pennsylvania,  encamping  at  the 
foot  of  the  first  descent  from  the  Fort.  It  was  near  the  place 
of  our  first  encampment  in  the  district.  We  were  substantially 

"Tenting  on  the  old  camp  ground." 

The  site  was  lower  than  the  former  one,  but,  even  in  wet 
weather,  not  so  disagreeable.  It  was  here  we  first  encoun 
tered  and  fought  Old  Winter  in  cloth  tenements.  The  men 
were  permitted  to  build  with  more  care  than  usual;  drilling, 
camp  duty  and  working  on  the  defenses  was  the  occupation 
of  the  men.  The  organization  had  lost  but  few  up  to  that 
date  and,  the  line  formed  at  dress  parade  made  a  most  impos 
ing  sight.  There  was  a  good  deal  of  drilling  by  squads, 


48  HISTORY   OF   THE   117TH   R.    N.'  Y.    V. 

indicating  a  determination  at  head  quarters  that  the  regi 
ment  should  be  an  effective  one.  The  fatigue  duty  was  di 
rected  to  the  building  of  a  small  fort  or  redoubt  known  there 
as  Fort  Eliptic  and  by  the  men  designated  as  "  Soapstone 
Fort."  While  in  this  camp,  there  was  a  change  in  the  sutler- 
ship,  Mr.  Nellis  withdrew,  and  was  succeeded  by  Messrs. 
Martin  and  Plainer,  who  started  the  business  on  a  liberal 

scale. 

Among  the  events,  which  transpired  while  we  were  in  this 
camp,  and  prominent,  on  account  of  its  inspiriting  and 
cementing  influence  on  the  regiment,  was  the  arrival  and 
presentation  of  a  beautiful  silk  banner  made  by  the  Ladies 

of  Utica. 

The  following  extracts  from  a  letter  recently  received  from 
Miss  L.  C.  Graham,  furnishes  the  information  with  reference 
to  its  source. 

"I  am  sorry  to  say  that  the'  list  of  the  subscribers'  names 
has  been  destroyed  ;  I  can  say  however  that  the  collectors  met 
a  liberal  response  from  all  on  whom  they  called.  In  making 
these  collections  I  was  assisted  by  Mrs.  Daniel  Waterman, 
Miss  Eliza  and  Miss  Fanny  Green,  Miss  Eliza  Gird  and  Mrs. 
E.  A.  Graham. 

In  closing,  allow  me  to  add,  that  the  ladies  will  ever  feel 
grateful  to  the  officers  and  men  of  the  117th,  for  the  care 
taken  of  their  banner  and  for  the  proud  record  gained  for  it 
and  for  themselves.  Respectfully, 

L.  C.  GRAHAM." 

t 

The  Regiment,  for  the  reception  of  this  banner  was  drawn 
up  in  a  hollow  square,  Chaplain  Crippin  was  the  medium  of 
its  presentation,  which  service  he  performed  by  a  graceful 
and  impressive  rendering  of  the  following  letter. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V.  49 

"  To  the  Officers  and  Men  of  the  117th  Regt.  N.  Y.  V. 

The  Ladies  of  Utica,  desirous  of  evincing  their  interest  in 
the  great  work  you  have  undertaken,  and  their  faith  in  you, 
the  sons  of  Oneida,  have  prepared  this  banner  with  its  motto 
chosen  from  your  national  anthem,  which  they  hope  will  be 
satisfactory  to  you  all,  reminding  you  at  once  of  the  high  re 
sponsibility  which  -we  devolve  upon  you,  the  chosen  defenders 
of  our  liberty  and  happiness,  of  the  dear  ones  you  have  left 
behind,  whose  honor  is  inseparably  bound  up  with  your  own, 
and,  above  all,  of  your  duty  towards,  and  your  dependence  on 
that  Higher  Power,  without  whose  aiding  hand,  none  can 
prosper.  This  is  no  time  for  words,  and  we  have  but  few  to 
give  you.  Go  forward  with  a  will,  bearing  bravely  on  the 
glorious  banner  which  is  the  ensign  of  all  we  hold  most 
dear.  Come  back  when  your  work  is  done,  and  well  done, 
bringing  this  same  emblem,  torn  and  defaced  it  may  be,  but 
bearing  only  honorable  marks,  which  shall  add  a  glow  of 
thankfulness  and  pride  to  the  heart  of  every  maiden,  wife, 
and  mother,  whose  hopes  rest  so  fondly  upon  each  one  of 
you — or — come  not  back  to  us  again  forever. 

Sorrow  we  can  bear,  disgrace)  never;  but  this  is  a  word, 
which,  in  connection  with  you  of  the  117th,  we  need  not  use. 
Onedia  has  not  known  its  meaning,  and,  we  feel  assured  that 
it  is  not  at  your  hands  she  will  be  taught  it. 

Take,  therefore,  our  banner,  and,  with  it  receive  our  pray 
ers,  for  your  safety,  your  happiness,  your  glory,  and,  above 
all,  for  the  safety'of  the  land,  which,  you  go  forth  to  defend 
and  redeem. 

In  behalf  of  the  Ladies, 

Respectfully  Yours, 

UTICA,  October,  1862."  L.  C.  GRAHAM. 


50  HISTORY   OF   THE    117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V. 

The  sanguinary  repulse  of  Gen.  Burnsidei  from  before 
.Fredericksburg,  occured  while  the  regiment  was  occupying 
this  camp. 

The  Health.  The  regiment  bore  at  this  time  a  somewhat 
anomalous  relation  to  the  army,  it  being  regarded  at  Head 
quarters  as  neither  in  the  field,  whence  the  sick  would  have 
been  eligible  to  the  general  hospitals,  nor  at  a  post  at  which 
we  would  have  been  supplied  with  hospital  conveniences;  con 
sequently  the  sick  had  few  comforts  except  those  extemporized 
iu  the  command,  or  furnished  by  the  sanitary  agencies.. 
Friend  Kellogg's  beaming  face  was  more  than  usually  welcome 
in  those  days.  It  was  not  until  the  latter  part  of  December 
that  the  government  furnished  us  with  bedsteads  or  bed  sacks, 
and  then  with  a  scanty  supply  of  hospital  bedding. 

We  reached  Washington  during  the  very  height  of  mid 
summer,  which  transfer  suddenly  subjected  us  to  a  much 
higher  temperature  than  that  to  which  we  were  accustomed, 
and  the  crowded  camp,  with  its  dull  monotony,  is  at  best  far 
from  being  a  favorable  sanitary  situation.  Under  all  these  ad 
verse  circumstances,  however,  we  suffered  less  from  sickness 
than  any  other  regiment  in  the  Brigade  to  which  we  belonged, 
as  was  demonstrated  by  reference  to  the  morning  reports.  This 
difference  in  our  favor  was  due,  no  doubt,  in  a  measure,  to  the 
cleanly  habits  of  the  men  as  well  as  to  the  sanitary  discipline 
to  which  they  were  subjected.  The  first  death,  occurring  in 
the  regiment  after  we  left  home  took  place  on  the  12th  of 
September.  The  more  prevalent  diseases  were  diarrhea  of 
an  obstinate  type,  and  typhoid  and  typhus  fever.  Jaundice 
also,  whether  a  disease  or  symptom,  was  remarkably  common. 
The  high  moral  character  which  the  regiment  presented  when 
it  left  home,  it  fully  sustained  ;  one  hundred  and  twenty  of 


HISTORY   OF   THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V.  51 

the  men  enrolling  their  names  on  the  'Chaplain's  list  as 
"soldiers  of  the  cross."  A  sanitary  report,  made  to  the 
Medical  Department  by  the  surgeon,  dated  December  31st, 
closes  with  the  following  statement.  "  The  men  have  been 
well  clothed,  and,  with  exceptions  creditably  rare,  have  been 
cleanly  and  temperate  in  their  habits." 

The  evenings  being  long,  there  was  much  spare  time  for 
social  enjoyments,  and  for  various  amusements.     These  op 
portunities  were  well  improved  in  patronizing  the  city  theater, 
but,  more  especially  in  social  gatherings  at  the  tents  of  the 
officers,   telling   and   hearing    stories,   playing   euchre,   &c. 
About  this  time  a  new  source  of  amusement  discovered  itself 
in  the  character  of  an  intelligent  contraband  by  the  name  of 
Joe,  employed  as  servant  to  one  of  the  officers.     Joe  was  a 
genuine  specimen  of  the  genus  Virginia  "  dark."     Though  in 
the  service  of  one  officer,  his  irresistible  comicalities  were  as 
unconfinable  as  his  essential  fragrance  and,  were  therefore, 
the   property  of   the   regiment.      His   childlike   simplicity, 
apparent  credulity  and  inimitable  expressions  of  wonder  at 
the  true  or  over-drawn  accounts  of  Yankee  customs,  rendered 
him  an  attractive  object,  to  the  victims  of  dull  care.     He  had 
been  released  from  slavery  by  McClellan's   advance  on  the 
Peninsula,  and  had  attended  that  army  through   the   most 
active  stage  of  its   campaign,  so  that,  though  ignorant  of 
northern  customs,  he  had  been  unprofi tably  familiar  with  the 
"peculiar"  institution,  and  had  witnessed  some  stirring  battle 
scenes.     Toward  his  kind,  he  appeared  to  have  attachments 
not  very  unlike  those  recognized  by  white  folks!     He  spent 
hours  in  setting  forth  the  moral  excellence  of  his  parents. 
His  father,  who  he  said  was  a  preacher,  had  died  several  years 
before.      His  mother  he  adored,  but  alas !  she  was  a  bond 


52  HISTORY   OF   THE   117TH    R.    N.    Y.    V. 

woman,  under  the*  galling  yoke  of  slavery.  Joe  would 
have  almost  given  his  life  to  rescue  her.  Besides,  he  was 
attached  to  a  girl !  A  sable  maid,  bearing  the  unpoetic  name 
of  Sarah  Johnson,  was  the  burden  of  Joe's  thoughts  day  and 
night.  While  an  officer  was  one  day  regarding  with  much 
interest  the  photograph  of  his  wife,  he  was  observed  by  Joe  ; 
the  officer  asked  him  to  examine  it  and  tell  him  how  the  New 
York  women  compared  in  looks  with  the  Virginia  women. 
After  scrutinizing  the  picture  with  great  care  for  some  time, 
Joe  deliberately  admitted  that  if  the  lady's  nose  was  not 
quite  so  sharp,  "  I  reckon  she  would  look  most  as  good  as 
Sarah  Johnson."  Intelligent  for  one  so  oppressed,  fluent  of 
speech  and  excitable  of  temperament,  he  was  well  calculated 
to  gain  attention  to  the  recital  of  his  experiences.  Under 
the  inspiration  of  an  attentive  audience,  and  with  room  for 
characteristic  gesticulation,  Joe's  relations  of  plantation  or 
army  incidents  rose  to  the  dignity  of  an  entertainment.  His 
sufferings  in  bondage  had  furnished  him  with  a  large  stock 
of  thrilling  uncle-tomitudes.  His  'oratorical  forte,  however, 
was  a  description  of  a  pell-mell  retreat.  He  was  confined 
to  no  mood  ;  but.  would  run  with  the  greatest  facility  from 
grave  to  gay,  and  from  the  sublime  to  the  ridiculous.  In 
any  strain,  he  was  at  home,  and,  I  may  say,  eloquent,  and,  at 
times,  so  unconsciously  comic,  as  to  defy  the  gravity  of  the 
Chaplain  himself.  In  view  of  the  proverb  "a  merry  heart 
doeth  good  like  a  medicine"  Joe  seems  entitled  to  this  refer 
ence  because  of  his  influence  as  a  sanitary  agent. 

Agreeably  with  an  order  from  Gen.  Bernard  to  that  effect, 
the  regiment  was  now  divided  in  two  battalions  of  five  Com 
panies  each,  and  assigned  to  special  duty  some  ten  miles  apart. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   11TTH   E.    N.    Y.    V.  53 


CHAPTE   Y. 

FROM  THE  DIVISION  OF  THE   REGIMENT  TILL  ITS 
RE-UNION  AND  EMBARKATION. 

The  Battallions  march  to  their  respective  places. — Occupation. — The  Regiment 
visited  by  Residents  of  Oneida. — Newspapers  in  Camp. — Preparation  for  the 
Field. — An  order  to  Move. — March  to  the  Wharf. — The  Re-union. — Embark 
ation. — Voyage  down  the  Potomac. 

ON  the  24th  of  December,  the  arrangements  having  been 
made  for  the  division  of  the  regiment,  it  broke  camp.  The 
following  named  companies,  A,  B,  C,  D,  and  K,  constituting 
the  1st  Battallion,  marched  through  Georgetown  and  the  Capi 
tal,  across  the  east  branch,  up  the  slope  and  encamped  on  the 
heights  near  Fort  Baker.  The  order,  making  this  change, 
directed  Col.  Pease  on  arriving  at  Fort  Baker,  to  assume  com 
mand  of  the  3d  Brigade,  defences  north  of  the  Potomac.  Fort 
Baker  being  the  Head  Quarters  of  the  Brigade  and  essentially 
of  the  regiment. 

Picket  and  fatigue  duty  were  the  chief  employment  of  this 
Battalion  during  the  winter.  These  companies  also  stood 
guard  at  the  East  Branch  Bridge,  and,  when  employed  in  this 
capacity  they  often  caused  embarrassment  to  suspicious  pas 
sengers,  all  of  whom  were  closely  scrutinized,  and  not  a 
few  rigidly  examined  for  contraband  goods,  messages,  &c. 
This  road  was  a  frequented  thoroughfare.  It  was  by  this  way 
that  the  notorious  criminal  Booth,  escaped  on  the  night  of  the 
assassination. 


54  HISTORY  OP  THE   117lH   R.    N.    Y.    V. 

The  vicinity  had  become  historical,  also,  in  revolutionary 
times.  Fort  Baker  camp  was  a  sightly  place,  commanding  a 
view  of  the  Capitol,  the  city,  and  of  the  Potomac.  If  the 
place  was  delightfully  airy  at  times,  at  others  it  was  severely 
bleak.  There  was  some  sickness  in  the  Battalion  during  the 
winter,  and  some  two  or  three  deaths. 

The  2d  Battalion,  comprising  companies  E,  F,  G,  H  and  I, 
under  command  of  Lt.  Col.  White,  marched  about  two  miles 
westward,  to  a  point  near  the  Potomac,  and  encamped  on  the 
eastern  slope  of  the  bold  bluff  which  affords  Fort  Alexander  its 
valuable  prominence.  Being  in  the  vicinity  of  that  fortifica 
tion,  the  camp  was  near  the  old  regimental  camp  ground. 
The  medical  officer  of  this  Battalion  was  Asst.  Surg.  Mowris, 
1st  Lt.  Morris  Chappell  was  Quartermaster,  and  1st  Lt.  James 
M.  Lattimer  Adjt.  The  iminent  peril  to  which  the  Capital 
had  been  twice  exposed,  had  impressed  the  military  authori 
ties  with  the  value  of  the  immediate  defences,  revealed  the 
need  for  their  early  completion,  and  the  possible  responsibil 
ity  which  might  follow  further  neglect. 

Our  occupation,  therefore,  was  agreeable  to  these  indica 
tions  ;  beside  the  usual  camp  duties  and  drilling,  the  boys  dug 
and  chopped  almost  daily,  so  that  during  the  time  the  Bat 
talion  occupied  this  camp  it  contributed  largely  toward  the 
erection  of  Fort  Ripley  and  the  completion  of  the  adjacent 
Forts. 

The  camp  site  had  been  well  chosen :  it  was  on  a  knoll  shed- 
ing  in  almost  every  direction,  while  a  purling  spring  from  its 
base  furnished  an  abundant  supply  of  pure  water.  The  win 
ter  tenements  of  the  soldiers  may  be  thus  described  :  An 
enclosure,  the  wall  of  which  is  composed  of  a  succession  of 
upright  stakes  standing  in  contact ;  or  perhaps  of  poles,  put  up 


HISTORY   OF   THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V.  55 

after  the  manner  of  a  log  house ;  this  enclosure  includes 
a  space  of  perhaps  7  feet  by  9,  the  wall  about  3  feet  high. 
This  structure,  crowned  with  an  A  tent  for  roof  and  gable, 
gives  the  outline.  The  next  business  was  that  of  "repell 
ing  winter  blasts  with  mud  and  straw."  It  is  remarkable 
how  habitable  these  primitive  tenements  were  rendered  by  the 
ready  ingenuity  of  the  boys.  Some  might  infer  that  with  from 
three  to  five  inmates,  these  habitations  would  have  been  nox 
iously  close  ;  this  tendency  was  obviated  by  the  merciful 
absence  of  architectural  facilities.  That  they  were  not  un 
healthy  abodes,  or  that  the  sanitary  surroundings  must  have 
been  exceedingly  favorable,  may  be  deduced  from  the  fact 
that  during  the  three  months  and  a  half  spent  there  by  those 
five  companies,  the  sick  list  was  very  small,  and  that  in  the 
time,  death  never  visited  the  camp. 

.This  division  of  the  regiment  created  a  new  source  of  pas 
time  ;  the  relation  of  the  two  halves  was  too  intimate  for  non 
communication.  Letters  were  interchanged  daily,  and  where 
written  conference  was  considered  inadequate,  personal  visits 
were  the  next  resort. 

On  several  occasions,  during  the  winter,  the  regiment  was 
visited  by  residents  of  Oneida.  They  were  always  heartily 
welcomed.  One  or  two  were  the  bearers  of  "sanitary"  favors. 
There  were  times  when  soldier  life  seemed  intolerably  heavy 
and  dull.  No  wonder  the  boys  sometimes  felt  despondent  as 
they  soliloquized  :  "  Our  work  is  digging,  we  could  have  done 
that  at  home."  "We  came  to  fight  and  end  the  war  by  ex 
tinguishing  the  rebellion."  "We  are  now  nearly  a  half  year 
in  the  service  and  yet  at  the  Capital  instead  of  at  the  front." 
"Burnside,  with  our  great  army,  has  just  been  repulsed  with 
heavy  loss."  "In  the  west,  affairs  are  not  progressing  much 


56  HISTORY   OF   THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.    Y. 

better."  "The  administration  professes  to  be  striving  to  crush 
the  rebellion,  while  the  professed  democratic  party  is  desper 
ately  intent  upon  crushing  the  administration."  "If  our 
cause  is  not  stationary,  it  is  progressing  very  slowly."  It 
should  not  be  understood  that  the  regiment  was  discouraged, 
but,  if  citizens,  seated  at  home  in  comfort  and  security,  were 
sometimes  depressed,  perhaps  at  the  bare  prospect  of  increased 
taxation,  there  is  some  apology  for  the  temporay  indulgence 
of  this  mood  by  those  who  had  imperiled  comfort,  health,  and 
even  life  itself. 

Without  making  a  question  of  the  relative  political  proprie 
ty  of  the  adverse  attitudes  of  the  two  parties  at  that  time,  I 
may  perhaps  be  permitted  to  allude  to  the  obvious  preserving 
influence  exerted  on  the  army,  by  the  hopeful  tone  which 
characterized  the  pro-administration  journals. 

The  good  effect  of  these  papers  was  marked,  when  they 
came  into  camp,  as  the  medium  of  the  President's  reply  to  the 
sympathizers  with  the  eminent  Ohio  traitor.  The  political 
friends  of  that  notorious  personage,  aided  the  government 
materially,  when  they  furnished  the  President  a  just  occasion 
for  a  written  vindication  of  his  course.  With  what  simplicity 
and  force  he  called  their  attention  to  an  unparalleled  emer 
gency  and  then  to  democratic  precedence.  As  it  fell  among 
the  soldiery  it  was  felt  as  an  efficient  moral  tonic. 

Akin  to  this  in  its  influence,  was  the  able  state  paper  of 
Secretary  Seward,  in  which  he  so  amiably  declined  the  propo 
sition  of  the  French  Government,  to  refer  our  national  differ 
ence  to  the  arbitrament  of  commissioners.  In  his  letter  to 
Drouyn  De  FHuys,  he  assured  him  that  none  could  doubt  our 
ability  ultimately,  to  conquer  an  honorable  peace,  except  those 
who  were  content  with  the  deductions  of  a  limited  and  par- 


HISTORY   OF   THE   117TH  R.    N.    Y.    V.  57 

tial  examination.  After  referring  to  the  diminished  and  still 
waning  area  of  the  Confederacy,  he  added :  "  The  national 
forces  hold  even  this  small  territory  in  close  blockade  and 
siege."  With  an  inspiring  confidence  he  reminded  the  French 
Minister  that  "This  government,  if  required,  does  not  hesi 
tate  to  submit  its  achievments  to  the  test  of  comparison. 

These  state  papers  did  much  to  sustain  the  hopes  of  our 
soldiery,  and  neutralize  the  pernicious  and  demoralizing 
tendency  of  indiscreet  journalism. 

While  we  were  in  this  camp  the  President  issued  the  Eman 
cipation  Proclamation.  There  were  a  few  among  us  who  re 
garded  the  act  with  positive  disfavor.  The  measure  elicited 
some  warm  discussion,  but  not  enough  feeling  to  effect  the 
social  unity  of  the  organization. 

The  2nd  Battalion,  I  said,  lost  none  of  its  members  by 
death,  from  Christmas  till  the  middle  of  April,  though  like 
the  first,  it  must  be  admitted,  it  lost  one  or  two  by  a  singular 
affection.  Usually  toward  evening,  or  during  the  dark  hours, 
while  in  an  upright  posture, Athe  victims  were  seized  with  a 
succession  of  violent  contractions  of-  the  lower  extremities. 
Remedial  agents  being  neglected,  the  sufferers  were  "carried 
off"  in  a  few  minutes.  The  disease  was,  however,  compara 
tively  rare  in  our  regiment.  It  was  pertinently  styled  "Ske 
daddle."  The  departed  having  secured  a  permanent  notoriety, 
a  personal  reference  is  superfluous. 

During  the  winter,  various  had  been  the  conjectures  con 
cerning  our  destination,  on  the  line  known  as  "the  front." 
There  was  a  spirit  of  impatience  on  account  of  the  semi-mili 
tary  character  of  our  service,  the  boys,  frequently  remarking 
in  a  jocular  way,  that  they  "  did  not  come  to  dig  and  chop,  but 
to  fight." 


58  HISTORY   OF   THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V. 

At  length,  winter  passed  and  March  piped  his  advent.  The 
season  for  a  spring  campaign  was  approaching.  By  the  10th 
of  April  there  was  a  rumor  in  camp  to  the  effect  that  we 
would  soon  be  in  the  field.  As  early  as  the  12th,  we  were 
ordered  to  hold  ourselves  in  readiness  for  a  move.  At  an 
early  hour  on  the  morning  of  the  15th,  an  unusual  bustle  was 
heard  in  camp.  Clothes,  blankets  and  rations  were  syste 
matically  packed  in  preparation  of  an  immediate  departure. 
I  have  inadvertently  omitted  to  mention  an  item  which  did 
not  then  escape  our  notice ;  the  morning  on  which  the  regi 
ment  broke  camp  at  Baker  and  Ripley,  was  one  of  the  wettest. 
It  furnished  the  boys  a  good  occasion  to  test  the  shedding 
qualities  of  their  rubber  blankets,  and  increased,  to  an  in 
convenient  degree,  the  labor  of  locomotion. 

Agrreably  with  the  order  that  the  117th  Regt.  embark  that 
morning  on  board  transports  lying  near  the  Navy  Yard  wharf, 
the  battalions  marched  convergently  for  that  point. 

The  2d  Battalion  moved  promptly,  and  marched  proudly. 
Every  man  seemed  to  regard  this  call  to  sterner  warfare,  as  a 
personal  promotion  in  his  country's  service.  As  it  made  the 
transit  of  the  city,  by  Penn.  Avenue,  it  excited  general  notice 
and  admiration. 

THE  RE  UNION. 

The  1st  Battalion,  having  a  less  distance  to  march,  arrived 
at  the  dock  first.  The  greetings  at  the  re-union  of  the  regi 
ment,  were  sincere  and  cordial — the  cheers  were  loud.  The 
embarkation  was  attended  with  some  delay.  At  length,  all 
things  being  in  a  satisfactory  state,  or  the  time  for  the  process 
of  preparation  having  expired,  on  board  of  two  river  boats,  we 
pushed  off  and  steamed  down  the  Potomac. 


HISTORY   OP   THE    117TH   R.   N.    Y.    V.  59 

Since  its  arrival  in  the  District,  the  regiment  had  not  suf 
fered  much  reduction.  There  were  some  absent  in  hospital, 
but  the  loss  by  death,  up  to  this  time,  was  not  more  than  thir 
teen,  and  those  from  the  following  companies  :  F  three,  G  one, 
H  one,  I  five,  K  three.  It  had  been  in  preparation  for  the  legit 
imate  duties  of  soldier  life.  The  men  had  become  accustomed  to 
obeying  orders,  which  with  many,  implies  a  contrast  to  their  for 
mer  life.  They  had  learned  to  obey,  and  for  the  most  part,  to  re 
spect  their  officers.  They  were  ready  to  admit  the  importance, 
if  not  the  agreeableness  of  the  means  of  securing  a  high  state 
of  military  discipline,  and  were  willing  to  promote  this  de 
sirable  end,  by  the  sacrifice  of  ease  and  comfort.  They 
had  also  improved  the  time  in  the  acquisition  of  skill  in 
the  use  of  arms,  and  become  acclimated,  and  inured  to  ex 
posure  to  the  elements,  and  to  unseasonable  toil.  Beside,  as 
a  regiment,  they  were  intelligent,  and  the  sentiments  and  con 
victions  of  the  majority,  were  in  full  harmony  with  their  anti- 
rebellion  attitude.  Hence,  our  organization  was  numerically, 
and  essentially,  a  vigorous  one. 


GO  HISTORY  OF  THE    117TH   R.   N.    Y.   V. 


CHAPTER    YI. 
JOURNEY  TO  AND  SIEGE  OF  SUFFOLK. 

Voyage  down  the  Potomac. — Arrival  at  Norfolk. — Citizens. — Arrival  at  Suffolk. 
—Incidents. — Col.  Pease  holds  the  right  of  the  Line. — Incidents. — Inhabitants. 
— Regiment  occupies  Hill's  Point. — Incidents. — Regiment  Paid. — News  from 
Fredericksburg. — Health. 

A  VOYAGE  of  two  nights  and  a  day,  and  we  were  at  the  dock 
at  Norfolk.  We  arrived  early  on  the  morning  of  the  17th. 

Our  destination  was  now  obvious.     Longstreet  was  making 
'  a  demonstration  against  Norfolk  and  had  reached  Suffolk, 
and  lest  he  should  decide  to  join  his  sympathizing  friends  in 
Norfolk  our  troops  already  there  must  be  reenforced. 

It  was  nearly  ten  o'clock  A.  M.  before  we  had  debarked. 
The  time  required  for  the  transfer  of  the  regiment  from  the 
steamboats  to  the  train  of  open  cars  which  stood  at  the  depot 
with  a  puffing  engine  prefixed,  was  improved  by  a  few  of  us 
in  a  partial  and  gratuitous  inspection  of  the  town. 

Troops  had  been  passing  through  town  for  two  or  three 
days,  to  the  obvious  annoyance  of  numbers  of  the  citizens 
who  were  standing  in  groups  here  and  there  about  the  streets 
in  close  conversation,  the  while,  scanning  and  commenting 
on  Yankee  troops  to  whom  they  hardly  deigned  to  speak 
when  civilly  accosted. 

The  city  was  very  quiet ;  with  the  exceptions  mentioned, 
it  lay  as  if  again  in  the  shadow  of  the  pestilence ;  but  for 
the  tramp  of  war,  grass  might  have  grown  in  the  streets. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   117TH   B.    N.    Y.    Y.  61 

We  were  about  two  hours  passing  the  light  sand  and  Dis 
mal  Swamp,  which,  on  that  line,  separate  the  North  and 
South  folk.  On  nearing  the  depot  at  Suffolk,  above  the  rattle 
of  the  train,  there  came  to  us  the  "boom"  "boom"  of  Long- 
street's  cannon.  When  the  noise  of  the  cars  ceased,  it  was 
discovered  that  those  guns  were  quite  near ;  by  some  they 
were  regarded  as  "  dreadfully  near."  I  judge,  not  only,  from 
personal  sensation,  but  also  from  observation. 

The  boys  became  unusually  taciturn.  Each  procured  his 
baggage  with  few  words.  The  "front"  had  suddenly  been 
stripped  of  the  enchantment  so  long  lent  to  it  by  propitious 
distance.  The  random  target  practice  of  the  artillerists,  at 
Fort  Alexander,  excited  merriment,  but  this  booming 
strangely  disposed  to  reflection.  This  noticeable  impression 
was  transient,  however,  as  such  impressions  commonly  are; 
and,  in  this  instance,  none  contributed  more  to  dispelling  it 
than  the  irrepressible  wag,  of  which  we  had  several.  As  soon 
as  he  had  recovered  sufficiently  himself,  he  was  seen  to  jostle 
his  comrade  and  with  a  knowing  twinkle  of  the  eye,  remark, 
"  Say,  Bill,  I  believe  you  came  to  fight  and  not  to  dig."  A 
few  such  sallies  served  to  restore  almost  the  wonted  degree 
of  self  composure  and  unconcern.  There  is  no  just  reason 
to  conclude  from  this  that  these  men  were  morbidly  timid. 
From  what  I  have  observed  in  the  same  regiment,  I  infer  that 
fear  is  suffered  not  generally  in  the  degree  of  one's  danger, 
but,  that  the  circumstances  most  favoring  the  exercise  of  fear 
are  a  vagueness  as  to  the  source  and  direction  of  the  evil,  and 
an  otherwise  unoccupied  state  of  mind.  Accordingly,  I  believe 
that  on  one  or  two  occasions  like  that  just  described,  the  boys 
suffered  as  much  from  fear,  and  perhaps  more,  than  when  thfey 
faced  grim  death  at  Fort  Gilmer  or  at  Fort  Fisher. 
5 


62  HISTORY   OF  THE    117TH  R.   N.    Y.   V. 

The  vicinity  of  the  depot  presented  a  busy  scene.  Every 
branch  of  the  service,  and  every  article  required  for  a  cam 
paign  was  there;  soldiers, arms, ammunition, rations,  shovels, 
picks,  &c.,  &c. 

As  soon  as  the  regiment  was  in  readiness,  we  marched 
down  through  the  ^rnain  street  to  the  other  railroad  on  our 
way  to  the  expected  bivouac  or  battle  field.  Our  passage 
through  the  place  appeared  to  be  both  a  Yankee  and  Secesh 
entertainment.  A  great  many  more  citizens  were  visible  here 
than  in  Norfolk,  but,  for  obvious  reasons,  very  few  men. 
Some  dwellings  were  closed  and  apparently  deserted  ;  but  a 
little  attention  to  the  guarded  windows,  disclosed  occasional 
variations  in  the  situation  of  the  blinds,  suggestive  of  unseen 
hands.  At  other  dwellings,  it  was  evident  that  feminine  curi 
osity  had  triumphed  over  natural  timidity,  and  brought  out 
on  the  porches,  bevies  of  wondering  secesh  girls,  who  seemed 
almost  eager  to  brave  the  perils  of  mutual  captivation. 
Their  amiable  expression  of  face  argued  how  incompetent  is 
contracted  sectional  distrust  to  withstand  the  benevolent 
promptings  of  instinct. 

An  incident  occurring  in  our  passage  through  the  village, 
exhibits  the  intensity  of  rebel  hatred  of  the  "  Yankee,"  and  ex 
poses  the  efforts  that  were  made  for  its  inculcation  in  the 
coming  generation.  Among  the  numerous  spectators  of  this 
Yankee  army  was  an  interesting  child  of  about  five  years  of 
age.  The  little  fellow,  held  by  his  mother,  was  leaning  out 
of  an  open  window,  an  eager  spectator  of  our  boys  in  blue. 
He  at  length,  in  an  argumentative  tone,  rebuked  his  mother's 
unfaithfulness  by  this  expression  of  his  new  found  convictions. 
"  But,  Ma,  they  are  kind  o'mans" 

The  regiment  moved  out  and  halted  on  the  North  side  of 


HISTORY   OP   THE   117TH   R.   N.    Y.    V.  63 

the  town  upon  a  lot  intervening  the  Portsmouth  railroad,  and 
Nansemond  river.  The  river  was  the  dividing  line  between 
the  rebel  and  loyal  forces.  The  sound  of  artillery  still  rever 
berated  from  the  front,  and,  from  the  opposite  side,  came  an 
occasional  whizzing  bullet,  followed  by  the  report  of  the 
emptied  rifle. 

Col.  Pease  was  now  ordered  to  take  post  on  the  extreme, 
right  of  the  line  of  defense, 'to  entrench  and  hold  againstr. 
any    attempt    of  Hood    to    turn    it.     His    command    was 
independent,  reporting  directly  to  the  Division  Commander. 
It  consisted  of  the  117th  Regiment,  Capt.   Morris'  Battery- 
N.  Y;  Artillery,  a  Wisconsin  Battery  and  a  Squadron  of  Firsfy 
N.  Y.  Mounted  Rifles. 

Pursuant  to  this  order,  about  sunset  we  moved  down  the, 
river  about  three  miles,  and  after  m'arching  and  counter-*, 
marching  till  near  midnight,  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  lie 
on  their  arms  for  the  night,  and  cautioned,  against  speaking 
above  an  undertone. 

The  process  of  retiring  for  the  night,  becomes  exceedingly 
simplified  by  a  resort  to  actual  service.  In  a  few  minutes 
every  man  except  the  guard  had  subsided  into  the  horizontal 
and,  in  a  few  more,  was  reporting  progress  by  heavy  respira 
tion.  But  had  you  looked  abroad,  over  these  recumbent  cap 
tives  of  Morpheus,  you  might,  occasionally,  during  the  night, 
have  discerned  the  moving  form  and  heard  the  unamiable 
mutterings  of  some  restless,  fastidious  lodger  in  search  of  a 
softer  or  warmer  place,  and  whose  unhallowed  ambition  had 
prompted  him  to  an  unavailing  attempt  to  pass  the  guard,  to 
appropriate  the  coveted  shelter  of  a  friendly  tree. 

In  the  morning,  we   were   directed   down  the  river  some 
three  or  four  miles  further.    The  stream,  if  its  torpor  will 


64  HISTORY   OF  THE  117TH  R.   N.    Y.    V. 

admit  the  name,  is  exceedingly  devious.  It  doubles  upon 
itself  so  repeatedly,  that  I  do  not  doubt  but  there  are  sections 
of  it  which  will  represent  almost  every  letter  of  the  alphabet. 
I  have  seen  its  S's  and  Ws  so  complete,  as  to  leave  little 
doubt  that  it  does  not  somewhere  include  an  &c.  "The 
Nansemond  river  is  very  crooked,  marshy  on  both  sides  and 
full  of  oysters." 

Our  way  lay  by  an  unfrequented  road,  which,  where  it 
crossed  the  juttings  of  the  river  marsh,  had  been  newly 
bridged  for  our  passage.  After  making  the  desired  distance 
down  the  river,  we  turned  to  the  left  and  entered  an  isolated 
section  of  a  plantation.  It  was  one  of  those  outlying,  irregular 
fragments  of  a  farm,  which  are  the  result,  in  part,  of  the  ag 
ricultural  defects  of  the  earth's  surface,  and  yet,  to  some 
extent,  the  effect  of  that  gentle,  submissive  sort  of  husbandry 
which  attends  slavery,  but  that  which,  unfortunately  is  not 
limited  to  its  latitude.  This  lot  presented  a  narrow,  cape-like 
exten  sion,  reaching  westward  nearly  half  a  mile,  in  fact  it  may 
with  propriety  be  called  a  cape,  as  it  was  the  convexity  formed  by 
.a  sudden  bend  in  the  river.  It  was  proposed  that  we  should 
occupy  the  extreme  point  of  this  neck,  but  though  its  border 
was  well  fringed  and  screened  by  outcropping  foliage,  we  had 
scarcely  halted  for  the  purpose  of  encamping,  before  the  rude 
arrival  of  several  bullets  from  over  the  river,  admonished  us 
of  the  unsuitableness  of  the  position.  We  then  withdrew  a 
few  rods  to  the  rear,  as  most  of  us  felt  desirous  of  a  more 
healthy  location. 

The  cape  we  occupied  was  known  as  Galloon's  Point.  Hav 
ing  a  superior  altitude  it  commanded  the  rebel  battery  on 
opposite  bank,  about  a  mile  distant,  therefore  one  of 


HISTORY   OF   THE   117TH   E.    N.    Y.    V.  65 

the  first  duties  of  the  regiment  was  to  assist  in  planting  sev 
eral  pieces  of  artillery  on  this  eminence. 

In  this  vicinity  we  sojourned  for  nearly  a  month,  during 
which  time  we  picketed  the  river  for  a  distance,  above  and 
below,  and  fortified  the  Point  witli  heavy  rifle  pits.  Four  or 
five  days  after  our  arrival  here,  Hills'  Point  battery  on  the 
enemy's  side  with  six  guns,  was  suddenly  flanked  and  cap 
tured  by  a  detachment  of  the  89th  R.  N.  Y.  Y.  The  117th, 
was  transferred  to  occupy,  and  to  bring  off  the  guns.  Prob 
ably  not  a  man  of  us  has  forgotten  the  scene  at  the  dock 
where  we  embarked,  our  landing,  the  skirmishing,  the  wound 
ing  of  the  soldier,  who  subsequently  was  the  first  officer 
killed  in  battle,  the  destruction  by  fire,  of  the  buildings  on 
the  premises,  the  transferring  of  the  guns  to  the  boat,  the 
natural,  though  not  general  apprehension  of  our  inability  to 
hold  the  point  against  the  infinite  odds,  which  the  wily  enemy 
possibly  were  massing  in  the  favoring  obscurity  of  yonder 
forest,  our  vivid  recollections  just  then,  of  the  account  of  Ball's 
Bluff,  the  shouts  of  the  boys  as  they  sank  on  their  gangway 
plank  in  their  efforts  to  reembark,  and,  when  half  the  regiment 
was  on  board,  how  vainly  the  wheels  turned,  and  how  vehe 
mently  the  Captain  swore  when  he  discovered  his  boat  was 
aground  ;  our  crossing  the  river,  finally,  and  our  wading 
through  the  marsh  under  a  heavy  rain. 

An  incident  occurred  here  which,  as  an  illustration  of  the 
maxim  "Knowledge  is  Power,"  much  impressed  all  who  wit 
nessed  it.  On  the  other  side  of  the  river,  a  little  below,  and 
about  two  miles  distant  from  Capt.  Morris'  battery,  was  a 
deserted  dock  and  an  old  store-house.  Adjacent  to  these,  on 
a  little  eminence  stood  a  commodious  mansion,  about  which, 
by  the  aid  of  a  glass,  a  number  of  the  enemy  were  seen.  At 


66  HISTORY   OF   THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V. 

a  little  distance  from  the  residence,  the  rebels  were  obviously 
erecting  a  battery.  The  Captain  was  directed  to  annoy  them. 
His  first  shot  from  a  thirty-pound  Parrott  gun,  fell  within  the 
door  yard.  Five  minutes  after,  he  sent  another,  which  entered 
the  structure  near  the  eaves,  and,  in  an  instant,  the  smoke, 
indicating  the  explosion  of  the  shell,  was  seen  issuing  from  the 
demolished  windows;  the  tenement  was  promptly  vacated. 
The  Captain  then  turned  his  attention  to  the  "  Johnies  "  at 
the  prospective  rebel  battery  and  dispelled  the  party  with  the 
same  facility;  the  Gray-backs  scattering  in  all  directions. 
When  I  saw  that  modest  little  man  militant,  at  that  distance 
holding  that  portion  of  the  enemy's  territory  at  his  imperial 
option,  I  envied  him  even  more  than  I  do  that  potent  person 
age,  who,  with  one  finger,  inspires  and  curbs  the  terrible  iron 
horse. 

The  boys  will  doubtless  recollect  how  the  products  of  the 
river  were  made  to  supply  the  temporary  short-comings  of 
the  commissary  department.  A  luxury  was  now  substituted 
for  the  necessaries  of  life,  in  the  oysters  which  abounded  in 
the  margin  of  the  river.  Yet  even  this  provision  did  not 
obviate  the  supposed  necessity  for  an  occasional  unauthorized 
foraging  adventure.  These  however  did  not  all  pay  expenses, 
as,  for  instance,  the  appropriation  of  one  of  neighbor  Sanders' 
young  cattle,  which,  on  being  served  for  the  table,  was  found 
so  thoroughly  permeated  with  garlic  as  to  be  altogether 
worthless. 

While  here,  we  were  favored  with  an  official  visit  from  that 
highly  esteemed  functionary,  the  Paymaster.  The  rebel 
shells  which  announced  their  arrival  in  the  suburbs  of 
camp,  inspired  him  with  unwonted  alacrity  in  dispensing  his 
green  backs.  About  thirty  thousand  dollars  of  this  payment 


HISTORY   OF   THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V.  67 

was  deposited  in  the  care  of  Chaplain  Crippin,  and,  three  or 
four  days  subsequently,  was  transferred  to  Mr.  G.  C.  Platner, 
who  conveyed  it  to  Fort  Monroe,  whence,  he  expressed  it 
safely  to  our  friends  at  home. 

Our  neighbors  were  Mr.  Sanders  and  Mr.  Cahoon,  the 
latter  owner,  and,  in  the  absence  of  the  military,  proprietor  of 
Cahoon's  point.  They  were  both  aged  men,  now  the  nuclei 
and  props  of  their  grandchildren,  who  had  been  left  thus 
dependent  by  the  political  infidelity  of  their  sires,  and  the 
necessities  of  the  confederacy.  They  had  both"  also  suffered 
the  loss  of  all  their  slaves,  except  those  who  still  craved  a 
master's  protection.  And  even  such  as  did  remain  were  ap 
parently  more  than  ever,  eye  servants  ;  their  every  movement 
too  plainly  betraying  the  fact,  that  they  were  but  "  waiting 
for  the  wagon." 

Both  complained  at  the  loss  of  their  slaves,  but  Mr.  Sand 
ers  was  particularly  distressed  at  the  loss  of  a  remarkably 
intelligent  negro,  who  he  told  us,  had  had  the  full  control  and 
exclusive  management  of  his  affairs,  including  the  financial 
department,  for  said  he  "  though  to  my  shame  I  say  it,  he 
was  a  smarter  man  than  I  am."  The  female  portion  of  their 
households  were  of  course,  intensely  secesh.  An  unmarried 
daughter  of  Mr.  Sanders,  whose  personal  proportions  were 
more  ample  than  her  supply  of  beauty,  responded  to  a 
solicitation  for  a  little  piano  music,  by  furnishing  her  yankee 
visitors  with  "  Dixie  "  and  "  Up  with  your  Standard  Virginia." 
Knowing  the  sentiments  of  her  guests,  I  have  reason 
to  doubt  whether  her  performance  elicted  much  applause. 
Two  or  three  days  afterward  the  regiment,  on  its  way  to  a 
new  camping  ground,  passed  through  Mr.  Sanders' yard.  Just 
before  reaching  the  house,  the  band  struck  up  the  air,  "Star 


68  HISTORY   OF   THE   HTlH   R.    N.    Y.    V. 

Spangled  Banner,"  and  played  it  most  lustily.  I  have  often 
suspected  that  that  little  arrangement  might  have  had  some 
reference  to  the  parlor  entertainment. 

As  Mr.  S.  was  complaining  at  his  latter-day  adversities, 
he  was  asked,  why  he  inaugurated  them  by  voting  his  State 
out  of  the  Union.  He  replied,  that  about  the  time  the 
question  arose,  a  prominent  Virginia  Legislator,  whom  he 
named,  familiarly,  went  about  "  telling  the  people  how  to 
vote."  He  told  them  if  they  did  not  vote  their  State  out  they 
would  lose  their  slaves.  "And  now"  said  he  "after  doing 
exactly  as  he  advised  me,  I  have  lost  my  slaves  for  all." 
The  statement  of  Mr.  Sanders,'  with  regard  to  the  political 
action  of  himself  and  several  of  his  neighbors,  exposes  again 
the  fact  that  the  non-educating  policy  peculiar  to  the  south 
ern  states,  subjects  the  masses  to  the  direction  of  a  few 
politicians.  A  policy,  convenient  to  the  demagogue,  but 
degrading  to  the  people ;  unprofitable  to  the  State,  and  sig 
nally  disastrous  to  the  nation.  It  is  possible,  that,  in  our 
state,  there  may  rarely  be  found  a  man,  the  color  of  whose 
ballot  is  determined  by  the  dictation  of  his  neighbor,  but  I 
will  say  there  is  not  a  man  in  this  latitude,  whose  lack  of  self 
respect,  and  utter  abjectness,  are  such,  that  he  can  confess  it 
without  embarrassment. 

Knowing  that  the  Potomac  Army,  was  gathering  itself  for 
another  conflict  under  Gen'.  Hooker,  many  were  sanguine 
that  under  the  direction  of  "  Fighting  Joe,"  the  old  army 
would  achieve  just  such  a  success  as  its  numbers,  gallantry, 
and  devotion  seemed  to  deserve,  and  the  interests  of  our 
cause  demanded. 

We  therefore  boked  anxiously  and  waited  impatiently  for 
tidings  from  Fredericksburgh.  But  few  newspapers  found 


HISTORY   OF   THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V.  69 

their  way  to  the  camp,  but  those  that  came  were  seized  and 
read  with  eagerness.  We  were  occupying  our  second  camp 
ground,  it  was  in  the  pine  grove.  A  large  log  fire  was  blaz 
ing  before  Col.  Pease's  tent.  The  Colonel  was  enjoying  it, 
when  the  latest  daily  was  handed  him.  The  caption  under 
"  Latest  Telegrams"  was  sufficient;  "  HOOKER  REPULSED  WITH 
GREAT  LOSS."  Soon  the  word  passed  about  Head-quarters. 
"  Another  defeat  at  Fredericksburgh."  It  passed  to  the  regi 
ment  and  went  through  camp,  reiterated  in  despondent  tones, 
"  Defeated ! "  "  Whipped  again ! "  "  Licked  once  more  ! "  It 
would  be  unjust  as  well  as  untrue  to  say  that  this  reverse 
produced  no  perceptible  effect  on  the  regiment,  but  it  was  a 
temporary  depression  of  spirits,  and,  not  a  change  or  impair 
ment  of  determination. 

Our  neighbors  could  not  conceal  their  satisfaction  at  our 
discomforture  on  the  Rappahannock. 

The  health  of  the  regiment  was  not  good.  During  the 
latter  part  of  our  stay  at  the  Point,  the  sick  list  was  quite 
large,  and  the  sickness,  severe.  On  breaking  camp  we  were 
obliged  to  leave  quite  a  number  here  till  they  could  conva 
lesce.  A  medical  officer  remained  with  them,  so  that  they 
had  no  lack  of  professional  attention. 


70  HISTORY  OF  THE  117TH  R.   N.    Y.    V. 


CHAPTER  VII. 
FROM  SUFFOLK  TO  CHARLESTON  HARBOR. 

The  return  from  Suffolk. — Encamp  near  Julian's  Creek.— Incidents.— Concur 
rent  Military  Events. — Peninsula'  Raid. — Severe  march,  and  great  suffering. — 
Lee's  Invasion  of  the  North,  &c. — Return  from  the  Raid. — A  short  rest. — 
Orders  to  move. — March  to  Portsmouth. — Take  Transport. — Sail  Southward. 
Put  into  Beaufort  Harbor  for  Repairs. — Change  transports. — Resume  voyage 
to  Charleston  Harbor. 

THE  enemy  under  Longstreet,  having  by  this  time  retired 
from  the  Suffolk  line,  the  union  forces  withdrew  to  the  vicini 
ty  of  Portsmouth  and  Norfolk.  The  troops  were  defensively 
disposed,  and  proceeded  at  once  to  the  work  of  fortifying. 
Our  regiment  made  the  change  on  the  15th  of  May,  and  en 
camped  on  the  evening  of  that  day,  on  the  south  bank  of 
Julian's  creek,  about  four  miles  south  of  Portsmouth.  Julian's 
creek  is  a  small  branch  of  the  Elizabeth  River.  The  Head 
quarters  of  the  regiment  was  about  a  deserted  mansion. 
The  occupation  of  the  soldiers  was  picketing  and  fort-build 
ing.  As  the  army  of  the  East  was  now  recovering  from  the 
effects  of  Hooker's  charge  at  Fredericksburg,  we  had  about  a 
month  of  quiet  and  monotony.  We  were  dependent  on  minor 
and  social  incidents  for  excitement.  Rowing  and  bathing 
were  also  resorted  to,  and  contributed  to  the  contentment  and 
enjoyment  of  the  boys. 

Our  nearest  neighbor  was  a  confirmed  specimen  of  the 
chivalry,  who  rejoiced  in  the  anti-Sumnerish  name  of  Brooks. 


HISTORY   OP   THE    117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V.  71 

He  resided  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  creek,  and  owned  the 
vacant  dwelling-  about  which  the  Head-quarters  were  establish 
ed,  and  in  which  we  re  our  Adjutant's  office  and  staff  niess-room. 
Mr.  Brooks  had  evidently  contracted  a  clear  conviction  of  the 
infinite  superiority  of  a  southerner  over  a  yankee.  His  con 
victions  on  this  point,  were  manifest  in  his  demeanor,  and  not 
unfrequently  expressed  in  language.  The  day  after  our  en 
camping  on  his  premises,  he  called  at  Head-quarters,  and 
visited  the  camp.  As  he  was  getting  into  his  boat  to  recross 
to  his  home,  in  the  presence  of  a  number  of  our  soldiers  who 
were  standing  at  the  river  side,  he  indulged  in  some  expres 
sions  derogatory  to  the  character  of  yankees  as  soldiers,  in  the 
statement  that  at  times  when  they  should  be  most  steadfast, 
they  were  most  conspicuous  for  running.  A  soldier  retorted, 
"You  might  infer  that,  from  the  manner  in  which  we  have 
overrun  Virginia,  and  you  will  find  we  have  not  half  done 
with  it  yet." 

Mr.  Brooks  might  have  recalled  these  words  of  the  soldier, 
for  several  days  later,  Corcoran' s  Legion  arrived  ;  after  they 
had  appropriated  that  gentleman's  board  fence,  and  a  good 
share  of  the  clapboards  of  his  out  buildings,  to  make  their 
tents  and  beds,  Corcoran,  with  commendable  consideration, 
furnished  Mr.  Brooks  an  efficient  guard. 

Mr.  Brooks  had  been  in  the  Confederate  army,  and  was 
more  interested  than  gratified  in  witnessing  the  difference  in 
the  appearance  of  the  opposing  troops.  One  day,  while  at 
Head-quarters,  he  saw  our  well  filled  letter-box,  the  sight  of 
which  prompted  this  question  :  "Don't  you  send  out  your  mail 
more  than  once  a  week?"  "Yes  sir,"  he  was  answered, 
"daily."  "Does  your  regiment  send  off  that  number  of  let 
ters  every  day  ?"  "Yes  sir."  Regarding  the  speaker  with  a 


72  HISTORY   OF  THE   117TH  R.   N.   Y.    V. 

look  expressive  of  unbelief  and  wonder,  he  observed,  "But 
who  writes  them  ?"  He  did  not  attempt  to  conceal  his  sur 
prise,  when  assured  that  the  117th  Regiment  alone,  furnished 
nearly  300  letters  per  day  for  the  mail,  nor  was  he  quite  ready 
to  hear  that  more  than  90  per  cent,  of  our  organization,  wrote 
and  directed  their  own  letters.  t  As  many  of  the  supercrip- 
tions  were  excellent,  and  some  elegant  specimens  of  penman 
ship,  he  examined  them  with  much  curiosity,  and  if  not  with 
admiration,  it  was  because  the  advantage  lay  with  his  enemies. 

Another  neighbor  was  a  Mr.  Hodge,  who  was  as  fully  com 
mitted  to  treason  as  Mr.  Brooks.  He  was  afflicted  with  an 
acute  realizing  sense  of  the  existence  of  a  Yankee  army. 

Directly  before  his  door,  on  his  own  premises,  a  formidable 
fort  rose  to  obscure  the  view ;  in  his  rear  was  a  battery,  while 
on  his  right  and  left,  within  a  few  steps  of  his  house,  and  even 
under  his  sheds  and  in  his  barns,  Yankee  horses  devoured  his 
fodder  with  brute  unconcern.  Referring  complainingly  to  his 
cramped  situation,  in  conversation  with  an  officer,  he  was 
told,  "Mr.  Hodge,  you  are  as  closely  besieged  as  Vicksburg." 
"Yes,"  said  he,  "but  with  less  prospect  of  withstanding  it." 
His  family  never  condescended  to  converse  with  the  Yankees. 

While  we  were  here,  our  troops  were  startled  and  ex 
cited  by  the  announcement  of  that  foul  assassination  of  a 
union  Lieut.,  in  one  of  the  public  streets  of  Norfolk.  There 
was  a  popular  apprehension  among  us,  that  the  murderer 
would  escape  the  punishment  he  so  richly  deserved. 

By  the  middle  of  June,  the  military  monotony  which  fol 
lowed  Hooker's  failure  at  Fredericksburg,  was  relieved  by  the 
occurrence  of  stirring  events,  both  in  the  North  and  South 
west.  June  and  July  of  this  year,  were  perhaps  the  most 
eventful  two  months  of  the  four  years'  war,  if  we  except  those 


HISTORY   OF   THE   117TH  B.    N.    Y.    V.  73 

which  inaugurated  and  those  which  terminated  the  conflict. 
Gen.  Grant,  who  had  captured  Jackson  while  Hooker  was 
fighting  on  the  Rappahannock,  was  now  investing  Vicksburg, 
while  Gen.  Banks  was  besieging  Port  Hudson.  Prompted  no 
doubt,  by  a  wish  to  neutralize  the  effect  of  the  impending  loss 
of  Vicksburg  and  the  Mississippi,  Lee  determined  on  a  second 
great  invasion  of  the  North.  And  accordingly,  about  the 
middle  of  June,  began  his  march,  crossing  the  Potomac  on 
the  14th.  This  movement  was  too  important  to  admit  of 
further  inaction  on  our  part.  The  entire  Norfolk  force  was 
now  put  under  marching  orders.  On  the  22d,  the  117th 
started  on  its  never-to-be-forgotten  Peninsula  raid. 

June  22d  the  Regt.  marched  to  Portsmouth,  took  transports 
for  Yorktown,  where  it  encamped  and  remained  till  July  1st. 
On  that  day  embarked  and  steamed  up  to  White  House.  Im 
mediately  began  a  rapid  march  toward  Hanover  Court  House, 
making  a  demonstration  against  Lee's  communications  with 
Richmond.  The  most  notable  features  of  this  expedition,  so 
far  as  the  soldiers  were  concerned,  were  the  severity  of  the 
march,  and  the  profusion  of  blackberries.  The  latter  cir 
cumstance  was  so  remarkable,  that  the  expedition  was  after 
wards  referred  to  as  the  "blackberry  raid."  The  object  of 
the  demonstration  appeared  to  be,  to  confine  in  Richmond, 
as  many  rebel  troops  as  would  be  adequate  to  hold  it  against 
an  odds,  thereby  reducing  Lee's  army  in  the  field.  The 
latter,  and  the  capture  of  the  city  itself  failing,  the  next 
desirable  object  appeared  to  be,  to  return  our  troops  to  tide 
water  with  all  possible  despatch,  that  they  might  be  available 
at  Washington  and  Philadelphia,  should  Lee's  course  render 
their  transfer  necessary.  We  lay  near  the  Court  House  the 


74  HISTORY  OF  THE   117TH   R.   N.    T.    V. 

3d  and  4th  of  July,  while  the  decisive  battle  of  Gettysburg 
was  in  progress,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  fifth  began  our 
forced  march,  or  rather  race,  for  Ft.  Monroe. 

As  a  source  of  suffering,  a  battle  hardly  exceeds  a  forced 
march  during  the  warm  season.  Under  the  burden  of  knap 
sack,  haversack,  gun  and  cartridge  box,  thirsty  and  foot-sore, 
in  warm  weather  the  men  marched  a  distance  which  good 
pedestrians  would  not  have  fancied,  even  if  untrammeled. 
It  is  a  hard  thing  to  be  compelled  to  march,  up  to  the  last 
point  of  physical  endurance,  and  another  very  disagreeable 
duty  is  to  be  compelled  to  ride  in  rear  of  men  thus  suffering, 
with  no  consoling  agent  but  well-meant  words  of  encourage 
ment. 

0 !  the  emptiness  of  words,  when  men  are  falling  out  and 
lying  by  the  way-side,  exhausted,  fainting  and  dying  of  fatigue. 
No  better  evidence  of  complete  exhaustion  is  required,  than 
the  non-stimulating  effect  of  the  horrors  of  Libby  Prison.  Such 
was  the  degree  of  weariness  to  which  many  were  reduced, 
that  they  would  not  rise  to  resume  their  march,  though  assured 
in  all  sincerity,  that  the  enemy's  cavalry  would  be  up  in  a 
few  minutes.  Several  thus  fell  prisoners.  So  excessively 
severe  was  the  marching,  that  on  halting  sometimes,  not  more 
than  10  per  cent,  of  the  regiment  were  up  to  stack  arms.  The 
effect  of  this  march  was  apparent  in  a  sudden  increase  of 
our  sick  list. 

One  result  of  the  Gettysburg  battle,  had  been  to  deprive 
Lee  of  the  ability  to  renew  the  contest.  In  his  retreat  he 
betrayed  a  remarkable  singleness  of  purpose  to  avail  himself, 
as  speedily  as  possible,  of  the  comforts  of  aplace  of  security. 
Accordingly  we  had  no  occasion  to  go  north  to  insure  the 
safety  of  the  Capital. 


HISTORY  OF  THE   117TH  E.   N.   Y.   V.  75 

While  we  all  felt  grateful  to  Providence  and  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac,  that  the  enemy  had  been  unmistakably  defeated, 
we  joined  the  loyal  north  in  the  regret  that  the  invaders  could 
not  be  hopelessly  broken  up  or  captured  in  his  retreat. 

Just  about  the  time  our  boys  returned  to  camp,  we  received 
the  news  of  the  draft  riot  in  New  York  city.  If  we  except 
the  intelligence  of  the  death  of  President  Lincoln,  there  was 
no  news  ever  brought  to  the  regiment,  which  occasioned  more 
evident  depression  and  discouragement,  than  those  shameful 
proceedings  in  New  York  city  during  the  week  beginning 
July  12th,  '63.  The  feelings  thus  excited,  were  sorrow  that 
our  state  should  be  thus  deeply  and  perpetually  disgraced, 
a  painful  distrust  and  apprehension,  and  a  just  and  intense 
indignation  at  the  audacity  of  northern  rebels,  with  expressed 
wishes  for  an  opportunity  to  fight  them.  The  distrust  and 
solicitude,  excited  by  the  news  of  the  riot,  were  not  lessened 
by  the  soldiers'  doubt  whether  the  complimentary  treatment 
extended  to  New  York  rebels,  was  prompted  by  a  supposed 
necessity,  or  by  political  sympathy. 

By  the  twenty-ninth  day  of  July,  the  regiment  having  re 
covered  somewhat  from  the  effects  of  the  Peninsula  raid, 
though  it  had  lost  some  by  sickness,  and  several  by  death, 
whose  decline  was  clearly  traceable  to  the  excessive  hardships 
of  that  expedition,  was,  with  others,  ordered  to  Portsmouth. 

The  order  to  march  was  usually  welcome.  An  army  made 
up  of  the  active  busy  Yankee  Nation,  is  always  ready  for  a 
move.  Beside  the  novelty  which  is  so  attractive,  a  change  of 
base  excited  a  thought  and  hope,  that  perhaps  with  this  move, 
something  might  be  done  to  promote  sensibly  the  "wished 
for  consummation."  With  a  soldier,  expectation  is  kept 
on  tiptoe,  by  his  ignorance  as  to  his  destination.  When  the 


76  HISTORY   OF   THE   117TH  B.   N.    Y.    V. 

problem  is  being  solved  by  his  progress,  this  ignorance  is 
tolerable ;  but  sometimes  the  column  halts  and  remains  sta 
tionary  for  hours  and  days,  midway  on  its  transit,  without  an 
apparent  reason.  To  submit  gracefully  to  an  indefinite  delay 
without  the  comforts  of  a  camp,  in  the  absence  of  an  explana 
tion,  is  a  difficult  task  for  men  of  ordinary  intelligence,  and 
particularly  for  those  who  are  proverbial  for  their  ready  and 
persistent  "  Why  ?" 

One  of  the  severest  tests  of  patriotism,  I  say,  on  the  part  of 
those  whose  life-long  pursuits  have  been  conducted  in  accord 
ance  with  intelligent  plans,  is  to  abase  themselves,  as  it  were, 
to  assume  the  passive  mood,  to  become  mere  machines  in  the 
hands  of  their  accidental  superiors.  Such  a  test  awaited  the 
regiment  at  Portsmouth.  The  boys  were  kept  there  for  a 
couple  of  days  and  nights,  sometimes  lying  in  an  unfrequented 
street,  under  a  copious  rain  or  a  burning  sun,  or  perhaps  in  a 
deserted  market,  on  the  supposition  that  a  foul  atrnospere  was 
less  injurious  than  exposure  to  the  elements. 

An  order  at  length  came  for  the  regiment  to  embark  on 
board  one  of  the  transports  lying  at  the  dock.  After  the  usual 
delay,  the  embarkation  was  effected,  when  the  vessel  steamed 
off.  At  once  the  question  went  round:  "Are  we  going  to 
join  the  army  north,  or  to  the  department  of  the  south  ?" 
The  capture  and  occupation  of  the  greater  portion  of  Morris 
Island,  by  Gen.  Gilmore,  had  recently  been  announced, 
hence  it  was  natural  to  suppose  that  our  destination  was 
the  vicinity  of  Charleston  Harbor.  This  supposition  re- 
olved  itself  into  a  strong  probability,  when,  after  passing 
Fort  Monroe,  we  headed  sea-ward.  We  were  soon  on  the 
broad  ocean,  with  the  coast  on  our  right.  As  but  a  small 


HISTORY   OF  THE    117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V.  77 

percentage  of  the  regiment  had  ever  been  to  sea,  we  had  not 
rocked  round  Hatteras  before, 

"A  home  on  the  rolling  deep," 

was  the  most  remote  from  our  wishes.  All  the  internal  and,, 
domestic  inconveniences,  arising'  from  sea-sickness,  were  ours, 
to  endure,  aggravated  as  they  were  by  the  great  number,  of; 
sufferers.  We  had  not  proceeded  far  on  the  voyage,  before 
it  was  discovered  that  the  vessel  was  entirely  unfit  for  sea- 
service.  This  proof  of  the  light  estimate  placed  on  human, 
life  by  some  quartermasters  of  transportation,  at  whose  mercy 
we  were,  did  not  tend  to  restore  gastric  tranquilaty,  or  to  pro- 
mote  good  humor.  A  few  seemed  to  find  a  temporary  satisfac-. 
tion  in  a  lusty  condemnation  of  the  President  and  Cabinet,  as. 
if  an  honest  purpose  on  the  part  of  a  few  in,  Washington^ 
could  regenerate  the  whole  yankee  nation. 

Luckily  the  instinct  of  self  preservation  was  quite  as  valid 
in  Captain  and  crew,  as  in  the  passengers,  and  therefore  we 
put  into  Beaufort  Harbor,  N.  0.,  for  repairs,  or  at  least  for  a 
cessation  of  peril. 

The  substantial  and  capacious  Government  Transport,  E.  S. 
Spaulding,  being  there  at  the  dock,  she  was  at  once  assigned 
to  the  service  of  conveying  the  117th  Regt.  to  Charleston  Har 
bor.  The  alacrity  with  which  the  boys  quitted  the  condemned 
craft,  and  betook  themselves  to  a  better  footing,  disclosed  the 
measure  of  their  distrust.     For  this  timely  favor  the  Spauld 
ing  was  ever  after  regarded  by  the  boys  with  partiality.     The 
change  of  transports,  and  the  voyage    to  Charleston,  were 
made  on  the  first  and  second  days  of  August. 
The  troops,  at  every  delay,  were  impatient  lest  they  should 
6 


78  HISTORY  OF  THE   117TH  R.   N.   Y.   V. 

arrive  too  late  to  join  the  pending  advance  upon  Charleston. 
Their  anxiety  to  proceed,  on  that  account,  when  recalled  in 
connection  with  the  fact  that  the  event  did  not  transpire  till 
nearly  two  years  later,  is  somewhat  amusing.  As  it  has  ter 
minated,  they  will  not  be  annoyingly  reminded  of  their  mis 
take  by  those  who  then  clamorously  averred  that  the  rebel 
cities  could  never  be  taken. 

The  aggregate  comfort  of  this  voyage  was  small  indeed, 
though  the  change  of  vessels  very  much  improved  the  condi 
tion.  The  heat  was  oppressive  on  deck  and  still  more  so 
below,  where  a  good  portion  of  the  regiment,  for  want  of  room, 
was  obliged  to  spend  much  of  the  time. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V.  79 


CHAPTER   VIII. 
THE  FOLLY  ISLAND  CAMPAIGN. 

Entrance  in  Charleston  Harbor.— Landing.— Siege  of  Fort  Wagner.— Severe 
duty —Privation  and  Suffering.— Much  sickness.— A  Month's  service  on  Block 
Island.— Additional  comforts  and  improved  health.— Thanksgiving.— Shell- 
Hunting. — John's  Island  Expedition. — Kegimental  changes  by  resignations 
and  promotions. 

ABOUT  three  o'clock,  P.  M.,  August  2nd,  we  began  to  hear 
the  deep  sounds  of  distant  artillery.  A  few  minutes  later,  we 
could  discern  an  extended  gray-line  on  the  western  horizon, 
which  on  nearer  approach  revealed  itself  as  the  sea  boundary 
of  Folly  and  Morris  Islands.  Here  and  there,  on  the  crest  of 
the  far-reaching  bank,  like  a  stationary  sentinel,  stood  the 
dwarf  palmetto,  suggesting  at  once  our  reduced  latitude  and 
the  nation's  political  disorder.  Groups  of  tents  marked 
the  Head-quarters  of  regiments  or  brigades,  while  far  up  on 
Morris  Island,  lines  of  loyal  blue  moved  to  and  fro  over  the 
level  belt  of  impacted  sand.  About  four  o'clock  we  entered 
Charleston  Harbor.  As  none  could  repress  a  very  natural 
curiosity  to  see  the  stage  of  historical  scenes,  all  crowded  on 
deck,  eager  to  inspect  Fort  Wagner,  to  get  a  sight  of  the 
famous  Sumter,  and,  if  possible,  to  obtain  a  glimpse  of  the 
"  cradle  of  secessionism,"  prime  source  of  our  adversity. 
The  interest  of  the  scenery  was  heightened  by  an  artillery 
duel  which  was  then  in  progress,  and  which,  indeed,  was 


80  HISTORY   OF   THE   117TH    R.    N.    Y.    V. 

maintained  with  slight  interruptions  for  the  succeeding  half- 
year. 

It  was  not  easy  to  content  ourselves  on  board  for  another 
night  after  enjoying  a  sight  of  land.  We  were  not  however 
permitted  to  debark  till  the  following  day,  August  3rd,  when 
we  landed  on  Folly  Island. 

This  fragment  of  South  Carolina  is  some  six  or  eight  miles 
long  and  varying  from  a  half,  to  three-fourths  of  a  mile  in 
width.  The  sea  border  of  the  Island  is  a  bold  relief  of  sand 
bank  ;  the  inner  third  of  the  Island  presents  a, ridge  or  spine, 
then  heavily  wooded  with  tall  thrifty  pines.  The  interval 
between  the  wooded  ridge  and  the  beach  was  low  and  sandy, 
covered  by  an  almost  impenetrable  jungle  of  palmetto,  live 
oak,  vine,  &c.  The  regiment  encamped  near  the  middle  of 
the  island,  that  is,  nearly  equidistant  from  its  extremities, 
and  at  first  the  Head-quarter  and  line  officers'  tents  crowned 
the  crest  of  the  sand  bank  ;  the  company  streets  being  in 
the  vale,  which  had  been  to  some  extent,  cleared  for  their 
occupation.  Two  or  three  north-easterly  gales  persuaded  the 
officers  of  the  propriety  of  a  descent  to  the  shelter  of  the 
bank.  Though  the  major  portion  of  the  regiment  was  often 
absent  on  picket  duty  and  on  several  expeditions  to  neighboring 
islands,  as  well  as  in  the  siege  of  Fort  Wagner,  this  locality 
was  our  regimental  home.  The  troops  on  Folly  Island  con 
sisted  of  two  Divisions,  commanded  by  Generals  Gorden  and 
Yodges  ;  the  117th  was  in  Alford's  Brigade,Vodges'  Division. 
And  here  followed,  perhaps  in  many  particulars,  one  of  the 
gloomiest  periods  of  our  term  of  service.  Our  duties,  which 
were  heavy,  began  with  the  day  of  our  debarkation.  The 
severity  of  the  service ;  our  exposure  to  the  excessive  heat  of 
the  day,  and  the  chilling  air  of  night,  in  our  unacclirnated 


HISTORY   OF   THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V.  81 

state,  and,  our  limitation  for  several  weeks,  to  the  use  of  two 
or  three  of  the  commonest  articles  of  army  rations,  rapidly 
reduced  the  physical  tone  of  the  organization.  Ague,  fever, 
and  bowel  affections,  in  a  few  days  unfitted  one  hund 
red  for  duty.  To  these  diseases,  a  little  later,  scurvy  was 
superadded.  While  there  were  a  score  or  more  in  the  hospi 
tal,  it  was  not  uncommon  to  see  nearly  a  hundred  present  at 
"sick  call." 

The  sick  were  generally  in  a  remarkably  despondent  mood. 
This  unprofitable  frame  of  mind  was  favored  by  our  isolated 
situation,  and  the  consequent  infrequency  of  home  tidings, 
and  the  newness  of  coast  and  southern  scenery,  ever  sugges 
ting  the  sick-boy's  distance  from  that  loved  spot,  his  home. 

Home  sickness,  or,  as  medical  men  choose  to  term  it, 
"Nostalgia,"  with  other  sickness,  made  an  unpromising  com 
plication.  The  younger  soldiers  and  such  elder  ones  as  were 
constitutionally  more  prone  to  this  home  yearning,  were  least 
likely  to  recover  from  serious  illness. 

The  adverse  effects  of  this  social  infirmity  may  be  deduced 
from  the  remarkable  and  prompt  improvement  which  often 
followed  the  patient's  departure  for  home. 

The  writer  has  a  case  vivid  in  memory,  of  a  boy  of  eight 
een,  who  had  been  steadily  melting  away,  as  it  were,  with 
scorbutic  diarrhea  for  several  weeks.  The  most  approved 
remedies  had  been  employed  in  vain ;  he  became  scarcely,  a 
living  skeleton.  When  less  ill,  a  furlough  had  been  refused, 
though  it  was  more  than  probable  that  death  would  dissolve 
his  military  obligations  before  his  application  for  discharge 
could,  by  "  the  regular  channels  "  reach  the  department  com 
mander ;  the  effort  was  made,  and  the  discharge  came,  only  an 


82  HISTORY   OF  THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V. 

hour  or  two   before  the  departure  of  the  mail  steamer  for 
New  York  city. 

The  apparently  dying  boy,  now  inspired  with  new  life  at 
the  thought  of 

"  Seeing  home  and  friends  once  more," 

was  tenderly  placed  on  board  the  north  bound  steamer. 
Though  all  who  saw  him  confidently  predicted  his  early  death 
at  sea,  the  same  young  soldier  recovered,  and,  re-enlisting,  re 
turned  to  the  regiment  at  the  expiration  of  about  six  months. 
The  same  happy  result  did  not  always  follow  a  visit  home, 
but  in  many  cases  the  remedial  influence  of  northern 
air,  and  home  comforts  was  very  marked.  It  is  to  be  regret 
ted  that  a  greater  number  could  not  have  enjoyed  the  treat 
ment. 

The  objection  urged  against  the  issuing  of  many  furloughs, 
was  the  demoralizing  influence  to  which  soldiers  were  then 
exposed  in  this  latitude ;  it  being  a  common  occurrence  to 
hear  the  declaration,  that  the  President's  demands  on  the 
soldier  were  prompted  by  personal  caprice  and  not  indicated 
by  public  necessity.  This  sort  of  teaching  owed  its  power 
for  evil,  in  many  instances,  to  the  social  and  even  official 
prominence  of  those  who  lent  themselves  to  its  diffusion. 
Among  those  whose  names  were  not  on  the  sick  list,  there 
were  few  whose  appearance  or  manner  gave  evidence  of 
health.  The  majority  were  dull  and  spiritless. 

The  ball  and  quoits,  which  had  been  popular  at  times  of 
leisure  in  our  other  camps,  were  now  obsolete.  The  unwont 
ed  stillness  which  brooded  over  the  camp  was  rarely  broken 
by  the  sound  of  laughter.  The  men,  when  going  forth  to 
duty  by  squads,  companies,  or  as  a  regiment,  betrayed  a  tard 
iness,  a  negative  mood,  never  seen  in  the  regiment  before,  nor 


HISTORY   OF  THE  117TH   R.   N.    Y.   V.  83 

subsequently.  By  contrasting  the  appearance  of  this  body  of 
troops  with  that  presented  by  it,  when  at  camp  Morris,  D.  C. 
one  could  realize  the  full  purport  of  what  is  intended  to  be 
conveyed  by  the  u  morale  "  of  an  army. 

Notwithstanding  decided  sanitary  measures  were  resorted 
to  by  the  several  medical  directors  and  the  numerous  regi 
mental  surgeons,  the  indescribable  shadow  which  overhung 
and  pervaded  our  organization,  was  felt  by  the  entire  white 
force  on  the  island.  All  the  white  troops  having  come  from 
a  higher  latitude,  were  equally  obnoxiqus  to  the  adverse  in 
fluence  from  which  we  suffered,  and  as  a  consequence,  the 
physical  condition  of  the  entire  force  was  bad,  and  the  aggre 
gate  mortality,  very  great.  Our  regiment  did  not  suffer  more 
than  other  commands  and  our  percentage  of  deaths  was  much 
lower  than  that  of  many  others. 

For  a  time,  the  regiment  was  employed  in  the  siege  of  Fort 
Wagner ;  it  was  then  transferred  to  Block  Island  which  was 
an  advanced  position,  Charleston  being  in  easy  cannon  range. 
On  the  afternoon  of  22nd  of  August,  we  marched  up  to  the 
northern  extremity  of  the  island ;  in  the  evening,  crossed 
Light  House  Inlet  on  Ferry  boats  to  Morris  Island.  Soon 
after  dark,  and  it  was  very  dark,  we  set  out  in  yawl  boats 
among  which  we  were  distributed  in  thirties.  We  had 
scarcely  left  the  wharf  before  a  pitiless  rain  set  in.  Quietly 
in  the  darkness  we  threaded  the  tortuous  bayou  ;  now  finding 
ourselves  in  the  wrong  channel,  and  then  confronted  by  the 
limits  of  a  miniature  gulf.  The  rain  increased.  After  much 
perplexity  and  hard  rowing,  it  was  decided  that  we  had  reached 
the  designated  landing.  On  stepping  ashore,  we  were  hospi 
tably  received  by  a .  twenty-inch  depth  of  mud.  Thence  we 
waded  some  thirty  yards  to  a  wooded  eminence,  said  to  bo 


84  HISTORY   OF   THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V. 

Block  Island,  proper.  Here  we  found  a  firmer  footing,  though, 
just  then,  scarcely  a  dryer  soil.  Pickets  having  been  posted, 
overy  one  went  in  pursuit  of  whatever  measure  of  comfort 
he  might  obtain  under  the  circumstances. 

The  object  of  this  move  appeared  to  be  an  aggressive  for 
tification  of  the  island.  Much  hard  labor  was  expended  by 
us  in  mounting  several  heavy  guns,  which,  for  some  reason, 
were  never  used.  The  step  appears  to  have  been  a  mistake. 
Instead  of  having  made  a  formidable  advance,  we  had  only 
exposed  ourselves  toithe  perils  of  the  enemy's  converging  fire. 
In  fact,  several  tangible  hints  of  our  topographical  disadvan 
tage,  were  soon  sent  us.  We  spent  about  a  month  on  Block 
Island.  The  world-renowned  Wagner  fell  before  the  intrepid 
Gilmore,  during  that  month. 

As  the  troops  could  not  discover  that  any  remarkable 
military  advantage  had  been  gained  by  the  capture  of  Fort 
Wagner,  their  rejoicing  was  more  moderate  probably  than 
that  of  their  friends  at  home,  who  saw  it  only  in  the  light  of 
a  victory,  with  less  reference  to  its  real  value.  The  moral 
effect  however  of  Gen.  Gilmore's  success  in  that  siege  was 
valuable,  at  that  time.  It  inspired  confidence,  North,  and 
caused  apprehension  throughout  the  South. 

On  our  return  to  Folly  Island,  the  men  were  put  at  heavy 
duty,  on  Long  Island,  and  a  portion  of  the  regiment  sent  was 
to  guard  the  Commissary  Depot  at  Pawnee  Landing. 

By  the  last  of  Autumn,  a  great  change  for  the  better  was 
manifest  in  our  commissary  supply.  It  was  becoming  not 
only  ample  in  quantity,  but  the  list  of  army  rations  was 
varied.  A  very  extensive  army  bakery  began  to  dispense  soft 
bread,  and  enterprising  sutlers  furnished  Orange  county  but 
ter  and  milk,  New  York  fruit,  and  many  articles  of  conven- 


HISTORY   OF   THE   117TH   K.    N.    Y.    Y.  85 

ience  belonging  in  the  interminable  catalogue  of  "Yankee 
Notions."  It  was  not  far  from  this  time  that  the  regiment 
received  a  highly  esteemed  favor  from  its  friends  in  Oneida. 
What  could  have  been  more  timely  and  welcome  than  those 
apples.  About  one  hundred  and  twenty  barrels  reached  the 
regiment  in  fair  condition. 

The  increased  supply  of  food ;  a  more  philosophic  acceptance 
on  the  part  of  men  of  their  situation ;  a  partial  acclimation ; 
cooler  weather;  the  improved  atmosphere,  consequent  on 
an  extensive  exposure  and  thorough  ventilation  of  the  surface 
of  the  island ;  each  had  a  share  in  the  production  of  a  better 
state  of  health  throughout  Gen.  Gilmore's  command.  The 
effect  became  very  apparent  in  our  regiment.  During  the 
winter  there  were,  among  the  original  members  of  the  com 
mand,  comparatively  few  cases  of  fatal  illness.  Towards  the 
latter  part  of  that  season  the  physical  tone  of  the  117th,  at 
tained  a  point  which  it  had  not  previously  gained  and  did 
not  exceed  while  in  the  service.  The  recruits,  however,  who 
joined  there,  were  sickly. 

By  mid-winter,  the  axe  had  wrought  great  changes  in  the 
aspect  of  the  island.  The  jungle  had  disappeared  ;  the  forest 
had  fallen,  and  its  reed-like  pines,  by  the  aid  of  an  imported 
steam  saw  mill,  had  been  converted  into  lumber.  The  wilder 
ness  had  changed  to  a  populous,  extensive  and  busy  city. 
The  smaller  growth  had  been  burned  for  room,  or  used  for 
fuel.  So  thoroughly  had  the  work  of  clearing  been  carried 
on,  that  it  became  difficult  to  find  a  stick  for  any  purpose, 
and  the  scanty  woodpile  at  the  company  kitchen,  hinted 
strongly  of  radicalism. 

The  national  thanksgiving  was  observed  in  camp  by  a  cessa 
tion  from  all  except  the  most  urgent  military  duties,  and  a 


86  HISTORY  OF  THE   11?TH   R.   N.   Y.   V. 

regular  service  by  Chaplain  Crippen.  The  discourse  was 
at  once  religious,  patriotic  and  cheering.  Nearly  the  entire 
regiment  was  present,  including  all  the  officers,  except  those 
who  were  absent  on  urgent  duty.  Our  coveted  drum  corps 
was  iii  good  trim,  and  vied  with  the  brigade  band  in  the  excel 
lence  of  its  music,  while  our  vocal  choir  competed  with  them 
both.  The  latter  led  the  entire  congregation  as  all  joined  in 
that  grand  national  hymn  "AMERICA."  It  was  a  bright  day, 
and  a  profitable  occasion  for  the  regiment. 

The  latter  part  of  our  sojourn  on  the  island,  if  we  except 
the  five  days  occupied  in  the  John's  Island  expedition,  we 
passed  in  comparative  comfort ;  the  weather  was  almost  uni 
formly  pleasant,  and  the  military  duty  was  less  arduous. 
Various  camp  sports  were  resumed  and  highly  enjoyed. 
Shell-hunting  along  the  beach,  which  had  occupied  the  leisure 
of  many  from  the  day  of  our  arrival,  became  very  popular, 
and  was  conducted  with  exciting  and  amusing  competition. 
Some  became  so  engaged  in  this  pursuit  that  they  would  rise 
before  day  and  scan  the  beach  with  a  lighted  taper.  The 
prize  was  not  sufficient  however  to  induce  many  of  us  thus  to 
curtail  the  night.  Somehow  it  wasn't "  nat'ral."  The  avails 
of  those  occasional  gleanings,  were  disposed  in  innumerable 
packages,  and  remitted  to  distant  friends,  to  the  incidental 
lumbering  of  the  mail  bag,  and  the  proportional  increase  of 
the  postal  fund. 

Some  time  during  the  latter  part  of  the  winter,  an  enter- 
prizing  Captain,  looking  seaward  with  an  eye  to  conquest, 
conceived  the  project  of  taming  old  Neptune's  skipping  lambs. 
The  project  miscarried,  the  benefits  of  the  taming  process 
falling  on  the  wrong  side.  About  the  same  time  there  was 


HISTORY  OF  THE   117TH  B.   N.  \  Y.   V.  87 

observed  a  "  partial  eclipse  "  of  personal  dignity  on  the  part 
of  some  newly  mounted  officers. 

The  health  of  the  command  was  excellent.  Ball,  quoits 
and  gymnastic  exercises  were  liberally  patronized.  The  men 
were  cheerful,  mirthful  and  vivacious. 

On  the  7th  day  of  February,  a  part,  perhaps  about  five 
thousand,  of  the  Folly  Island  force,  began  a  demonstration 
against  Charleston  by  way  of  John's  Island.     The  117th  par 
ticipated  in  this  expedition.      On  the  evening  of  the  7th, 
(Sunday,)   the   Brigade,   under  the   command   of  the   late 
lamented   Col.   Drake,   of  the   112th  Regiment  New  York 
Volunteers,    marched    down    to    the   south    point    of    the 
Island.      About  10  P.  M.   crossed  Stono  Inlet   to  Kiawha 
Island.     Soon  after  midnight  we  resumed  our  march  south 
ward  on  the  last  named  island,  making  some  eight  or  ten  miles 
before  halting  for  breakfast ;  marched  till  noon,  stopping  on 
a  neglected  plantation,  where  we  "dined"  and  lay  quietly 
amid  a  young  growth  of  pines,  till  about  10  o'clock  P.  M. 
The  boys  will  recall  the  locality  through  the  passing  allusion 
to  the  "rabbit  chase."    After  filing  past  the  deserted  mansion, 
we  went  eastward  through  a  wood,  emerging,  after  going  about 
a  mile,  on  the  open  beach.     A  rapid  march  of  some  two  or 
three  hours,  brought  us  to  Edisto  Inlet.     The  men  weie 
obliged  to  make  the  crossing  on  foot,  though  the  water  was 
nearly  waist  deep.     Those  who  are  informed  that  the  temper 
ature  was  about  freezing  point,  will  have  no  difficulty  in  ap 
preciating  the  magnitude  of  the  obstacle,  and  it  seems,  a 
deeper  sense  of  gratitude  toward  soldiers,  would  be  excited 
in  the  minds  of  civilians,  did  they  know  how  cheerfully  the 
soldiers  accepted  these  ills.     We  had  anticipated  some  oppo- 


88  HISTORY   OF   THE    117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V. 

sition  at  the  crossing,  but  its  absence  indicated  an  encourag 
ing  lack  of  vigilance  on  the  part  of  the  enemy. 

The  passage  brought  us  to  Seabrook  Island.  Our  course 
was  now  about  north-west,  through  pine  woods  and  swamps, 
the  latter  made  passable  by  corduroy  roads,  and  at  length 
over  deserted  plantations,  which  composed  the  agricultural 
portion  of  the  island.  A  little  before  sunrise,  we  reached  the 
stream  which  divides  Seabrook  and  Little  Island.  The  in 
tegrity  of  the  bridge  was  additional  proof  that  Johnny  had 
been  caught  napping.  On  the  opposite  side  of  the  stream 
was  a  declining  mansion,  about  which,  hitched  to  posts  and 
fences,  stood  several  intensely  gothic  steeds,  equipped  with 
saddles  and  bridles,  the  most  comically  primitive.  Plainly 
enough  this  was  the  enemies'  outer  cavalry  picket  post,  and 
the  unwary  rebel  sentinels  were  within,  dozing  or  breakfast 
ing.  The  advance  had  crossed  the  bridge  and  approached 
within  a  few  yards  of  the  house  before  they  were  discovered 
by  the  inmates.  The  manifestations  of  alarm,  but  for  the 
tragic  character  of  the  personal  conflicts  which  followed, 
would  have  been  amusing.  They  sprang  out  of  the  doors, 
leaped  from  the  windows,  and  those  who  could  recover  their 
self-possession  ventured  a  random  shot.  Those  who  were 
confronted,  in  their  egress,  by  a  union  soldier,  made  desperate 
efforts  to  clear  the  way  by  force  and  fight.  One  of  them,  on 
being  opposed,  clubbed  his  musket,  killing  his  union  adversary. 
Those  who  escaped,  of  course  ran  incontinently.  A  little 
later,  they  rallied  in  the  edge  of  a  wood  about  a  quarter  of 
a  mile  from  the  house,  engaging  in  a  brief  and  feeble  skir 
mish  with  our  advance,  during  which  a  profane  and  reckless 
rebel  Captain  was  shot,  only  an  instant  after  shouting  to  the 


HISTORY   OF   THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V.  89 

union  skirmishers,  "Shoot  lower  you  d — d  Yank's,  you 
don't  hit  any  body  !"  The  skirmish  had  served  the  purpose 
of  apprising  the  main  force  of  our  approach,  as  the  musketry 
could  be  heard  at  a  long  distance,  dense  as  the  air  was  at  that 
early  hour. 

The  union  forces  moved  on,  and  after  pursuing  a  few 
minutes,  discovered  and  destroyed  a  cavalry  camp,  reconnoi 
tred  during  the  day,  established  a  line  in  rear  of  the  house 
and  fortified  the  same,  along,  and  within  which,  they  retired 
for  the  night. 

On  Wednesday,  the  10th,  the  enemy  approached  by  a  wood- 
road  in  considerable  force.  Having  the  advantage  of  altitude, 
we  flanked  them  with  a  well  supported  battery.  A  lively  and 
judicious  employment  of  these  guns,  for  a  few  minutes,  be 
trayed  Johnny  into  an  exhibition  of  the  natural  effects  of  a 
'stimulated  discretion.  They  did  not  retreat  without  some 
loss.  On  the  following  day,  (Thursday,)  we  advanced  some 
three  miles,  when  we  came  upon  the  enemy.  He  was  entrench 
ed,  and  concealed  from  view  by  a  thick  forest,  where  he  sat 
" grand,  gloomy  and  peculiar,  wrapped  in  the  solitude"  of 
secesh  originality.  Having  had  some  proof  that  we  were 
eliciting  a  commensurate  force,  toward  evening,  we  retired 
within  our  defensive  line  at  the  mansion.  The  night  was 
cold,  and,  as  an  attack  was  apprehended,  fires  were  forbidden; 
we  passed,  accordingly,  an  uncomfortable  and  cheerless  night. 

About  2  o'clock  in  the  morning  we  moved  out  to  return. 
After  nearly  all  had  marched  out  over  the  bridge,  the  man 
sion,  the  out  buildings  and  the  bridge  were  fired,  when  we  re 
tired  home-ward  by  the  reflected  light.  The  men  waded  the 
strait  before  day  ;  they  seemed  to  suffer  more  from  cold  than 


90  HISTORY   OP   THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V. 

when  we  went.  We  marched  briskly  along  the  Kiawha  beach, 
and  despite  the  conchological  proclivities  of  the  majority  of 
the  troops,  we  reached  the  deserted  plantation  by  day  break, 
and  halted  again  "among  the  pines."  Tt  was  a  good  place  to 
rest,  but  a  poor  place  to  prepare  a  cup  of  coffee,  the  water 
being  so  poor  that  it  could  not  be  improved  by  the  admixture 
of  "  B.  Commissary."  The  experiment  was  tried  in  one  or 
two  instances,  but  failed  utterly. 

The  military  events  occurring  on  or  about  the  island  from 
this  time,  till  the  date  of  our  departure,  were  not  of  an  impor 
tant  character.  The  health  of  the  men  continued  good.  The 
officers  who  had  gone  north  for  recruits,  Col.  White  and 
others,  re-enforced  the  regiment  with  two  or  three  installments. 

The  comparative  relaxation  enjoyed  by  the  command  dur 
ing  the  latter  part  of  the  winter,  was  improved  by  Chaplain 
Crippen,  in  efforts  to  promote  the  moral  interests  of  the  men.. 
Beside  his  regular  Sabbath  services,  he  held  a  series  of  even 
ing  meetings,  which  were  well  attended  and  resulted  in  good. 
The  sick  found  in  the  Chaplain  an  attentive  friend.  Quite 
a  number  of  those  who  passed  away  during  the  fall  and 
winter,  had  furnished  him  a  satisfactory  reward  for  his  coun 
sels  and  prayers,  in  the  hopeful  assurance  of  reconciliation 
which  marked  their  last  hours.  In  a  number  of  instances, 
he  had  performed  the  sad  office  of  remitting  the  dying  soldier's 
last  message  to  loved  ones  at  home. 

The  sounds  as  well  as  the  scenery  about  Folly  Island  were 
different  from  those  at  any  other  post  we  had  previously  oc 
cupied.  Among  them  were  the  rustle  of  the  superceded  pal 
metto  leaf,  and  the  ceaseless  anthem  of  Old  Ocean,  as  it  came 
to  our  ears  punctuated  by  the  deep  explosive  notes  of  heavy 


HISTORY   OF  THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V.  91 

artillery,  from  the  various  water  and  land  batteries  about  the 
harbor.  During  our  entire  sojourn  on  the  island,  there  was 
scarcely  a  day  or  a  night  that  we  did  not  hear  the  sound  of 
cannon.  Sometimes,  for  days  and  nights  together,  there  was 
not  an  hour's  cessation.  In  the  morning  it  came  with  the  first 
dawn  of  consciousness ;  at  meals,  and  through  the  livelong 
day,  and  in  the  stilly  night,  ever  and  anon,  we  heard  that  me 
morial  of  treason.  Even  on  the  calm  Sabbath  morn,  while 
the  dispenser  of  gospel  truth  discoursed  on  the  glorious  mis 
sion  of  the  Prince  of  Peace,  that  discordant  booming  testified 
of  rebellion  and  conflict. 

It  is  difficult  to  dismiss  the  topic  of  Folly  Island,  without  a 
description  of  the  Palmetto,  but  I  will  forbear,  giving  the  pre 
ference  to  another  local  object,  and  one  which  provoked  more 
general  attention,  and  caused  a  more  palpable  excitement. 
The  Island  was  not  so  remarkable  for  its  dwarf  palmettoes  as 
for  its  myriads  of  giant  fleas.     Their  number,  size,  voracity 
and  pertinacity  were  such  as  to  make  them  a  potent  noxious 
agent,  a  dreaded  pest,  almost  a  scourge.     As  a  predisposing 
and  aggravating  cause  of  disease,  the  Folly  Island  flea  can 
not  be  easily  over  estimated.     His  attacks,  with  many  persons, 
rendered  refreshing  sleep  impossible  for  nights  together ;  with 
the  sick  it  was  still  worse,  no  sleep  till  exhausted  nature  ig 
nored  the  evil.     The  sleepless  victim,  almost  frantic  with  pain 
and  rage,  would  betake  him  to  the  world  without,  where  the 
cool  air  would  allay  the  iritation  of  the  surface.     While  there, 
perhaps  he  would  discover  a  light  in  the  next  tent,  and  hear  his 
exasperated  neighbor  exclaim,  "  Confound  the  little  black 
customer !"     Sometimes  the  sentence  would  be  varied  and  the 
concluding*  word  abbreviated.    There  is  little  doubt,  that  the 


92  HISTORY   OP   THE    117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V. 

fleas  provoked  far  more  muscular  contraction  on  the  island 
than  the  Swamp  Angel  did  in  Charleston.  Their  number 
was  incredible.  There  was  an  account  of  a  cook,  who  for 
some  purpose  had  got  a  pail  of  sand  ;  on  returning  to  it  in  a 
few  minutes,  the  pail  was  scarcely  half  full ;  the  loss  had  been 
caused  by  the  voluntary  migration  of  the  animate  particles. 
To  be  candid,  I  do  not  credit  the  story  in  full,  but  certain  it 
is,  that  the  fleas  were  dreadfully  abundant  and  appallingly 
voracious. 

OFFICIAL   CHANGES. 

Col.  Pease  had  left  the  regiment  on  sick  leave,  while  we 
were  encamped  near.  Portsmouth.  Though  Lt.  Col. 'White 
and  Maj.  Daggett  enjoyed  the  confidence  of  the  command  in 

their  respective  places,  that  reposed  in  the  ColonePs  mili" 

• 
tary  capacity,  was  such  that  he  was  recognized  as  the  main 

stay  of  the  organization.  His  temporary  absence  was  felt 
among  the  officers  and  men ;  but  when  he  left  it  was  sup 
posed  and  expected  he  would  soon  rejoin  his  charge,  but 
it  was  to  be  otherwise.  After  a  leave  of  nearly  two 
months,  during  which  time  the  regiment  had  been  transferred 
from  the  Fort  Monroe  department  to  Folly  Island ;  with  health 
somewhat  improved  but  not  confirmed,  he  set  out  to  return  to 
the  regiment  and  to  duty.  On  his  way  from  home  to  Wash 
ington  he  suffered  a  relapse  and  was  obliged  to  return,  when, 
being  unwilling  longer  to  be  an  officer  off  duty,  he  resigned 
his  commission. 

In  September,  the  following  letter,  announcing  his  determi 
nation  to  resign,  was  read  to  the  regiment.  His  loss  was  felt 
and  deeply  regretted  by  all. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   11TTH   R.    N.    Y.    V.  93 

WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,      ) 
Sept.  1st,  1863.  \ 
To  the  Officers  and  Men  of  the  117ZA  New  York  Vols. 

It  is  with  unfeigned  regret  that  the  undersigned  announces 
the  severance  of  all  official  connection  with  the  117th  N.  Y. 
Vols.  I  know  I  will  be  pardoned,  if  upon  this  occasion,  I  say 
a  few  words  expressive  of  my  feelings  toward  the  officers  and 
men  of  the  Regiment.  To  command  such  a  regiment,  any 
man  may  well  be  proud.  It  has  been  my  good  fortune,  and 
my  great  pride,  to  command  the  very  best  body  of  men  that 
has  left  the  State  of  New  York  in  the  defence  of  our  country 
— the  117ih  N.  Y.  Yols.  From  the  organization  of  the  regi 
ment,  until  some  two  months  since,  I  have  been  constantly 
with  you,  and  have  had  ample  opportunity  to  become  well  ac 
quainted  with  the  character  and  disposition  of  all  composing 
the  regiment,  and  it  gives  me  the  greatest  pleasure  to  bear 
testimony  to  the  high  character  as  soldiers,  and  noble  qualities 
as  men,  of  all,  officers  and  men.  I  trust  that  I  will  not  be 
accused  of  vanity,  when  I  say.  there  is  not  another  regiment 
in  the  service  that  is  superior,  and  I  have  never  seen  one  that 
I  consider  equal  to  the  117th  N.  Y.  Vols.,  in  point  of  intelli 
gence  and  high  moral  character.  To  have  discipline  among 
such  men,  it  is  not  necessary  to  resort  to  harsh  means,  and  I 
think  no  officer,  competent  to  judge,  can  say  there  is  a  better 
disciplined  regiment  in  the  service,  not  excepting  the  Regular 
Army.  I  have  longed  to  lead  you  to  battle  in  defence  of  our 
country.  I  could  do  so,  feeling  that  not  a  man  would  turn  his 
back  upon  the  foe  in  the  hour  of  danger.  With  such  implicit 
confidence  in  all,  who  is  there  that  would  not  be  proud,  and 
feel  greatly  honored  with  the  privilege  of  leading  such  men 


94  HISTORY   OF    THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V. 

in  action.  I  am  happy  to  assure  the  regiment,  that  their  vigi 
lance  and  good  conduct,  in  the  presence  of  an  indefatigable 
and  bold  enemy,  thereby  preventing  the  turning  of  the  right 
of  the  line  of  defence,  at  the  the  siege  of  Suffolk,  is  appre 
ciated  and  acknowledged  by  the  several  commanders.  When 
I  left  you  I  had  doubts  about  ever  being  able  to  endure  much 
hard  service  in  the  field,  though  I  did  not  doubt  I  should  soon 
join  you  again.  My  health  has  failed,  and  I  have,  after  due 
consideration,  resigned  my  commission  as  your  Colonel,  and 
my  resignation  has  been  .accepted.  I  knew  I  could  not  endure 
field  service  very  soon,  if  ever,  and  I  do  not  desire  to  hold  a 
place,  the  duties  of  which  I  find  I  am  physically  disqualified 
to  fill.  It  has  been  a  severe  trial  to  me  to  bring  my  mind  to 
the  necessity  of  giving  up  the  regiment.  I  cannot  take  leave 
of  you  without  acknowledging  my  indebtedness  to  all,  both 
officers  and  men,  for  your  uniform  kindness  and  unqualified 
support'on  all  occasions.  If  I  have,  at  times,  seemed  harsh 
in  my  treatment  of  some  cases  of  violation  of  military  disci 
pline,  I  have  the  consciousness  of  knowing  I  had  the  good  of 
the  subject  and  of  the  service  at  heart.  I  have  the  very  kind 
est  feelings  toward  all,  without  any  exception  whatever,  and 
it  will  ever  afford  me  the  greatest  pleasure  to  be  of  service  to 
any,  or  all  of  you,  at  all  times.  In  taking  leave,  I  regret 
that  I  cannot  take  every  one  of  you  by  the  hand  and  bid 
you  God  speed.  My  regret  at  leaving,  is  somewhat  modi 
fied  by  knowing  that  I  leave  you  in  good  hands.  Lieut.  Col. 
White,  we  all  know,  and  all  have  confidence  in.  He  is  kind 
and  considerate,  and  will  prove  faithful  to  his  trust.  I  sin 
cerely  hope  you  will  all  give  him  the  same  cordial  support 
that  you  have  ever  given  me.  In  Major  Daggett,  you  have  a 


HISTORY   OF    THE   117TH   B.    N.    Y.    V.  95 

friend  who  will  devote  himself  to  your  best  interests.  We  all 
know  him  well,  and  know  him  as  the  soldier's  friend.  I  feel 
it  my  duty,  to  thus  publicly  acknowledge  my  indebtedness  to 
Major  Daggett  for  the  very  great  assistance  he  has  rendered 
me,  and  for  his  unqualified  support  on  all  occasions.  With 
such  officers  to  lead  you,  I  know  the  117th  N.  Y.  Vols.,  will 
make  for  itself  an  honorable  record.  To  the-  Staff  officers  of 
the  regiment,  I  acknowledge  my  obligations  for  their  uniform 
courtesy  and  support,  and  I  feel  that  the  regiment  is  singu-. 
larly  fortunate  in  having  such  a  staff. 

I  now  take  leave  of  you,  and  wish  you  God  speed,  and  pray- 
that  you  may  all  very  soon  be  returned  to  your  loved  ones  at, 
home,  our  country's  flag  redeemed  from  the  traitor's  blasting 
touch,  and  peace  fye  restored  to  our  land. 

W.  R.  PEASE, 

Late  Colonel  117th  N.  Y.  Vols. 

. »   » /      .  .    d  .. 
The  regiment  had  been  fortunate  in  obtaining  a  leader. 

Col.  Pease  was  well  adapted  to  his  chosen  profession;  his 
natural  capacity  was  rare ;  his  acquired  qualifications  were 
undisputed  and  universally  acknowledged.  He  was  digni 
fied  and  commanding  in  his  deportment,  and,  while  amiable 
and  pleasant  in  his  intercourse,  he  abstained,  without  effort, 
from  a  derogating  familiarity.  He  was  always  regardful  of 
the  comfort  and  well-being  of  his  men.  The  proud  record 
of  the  117th,  is  in  a  great  degree,  clearly  traceable  to  the 
healthful  military  tone  imparted  to  it  by  its  original  Com- 
mander,  a  lively  sense  of  whose  moral  presence,  continued 
with  the  organization  till  its  dissolution. 

The  vacancy  caused  by  Col.  Pease's  resignation,  was  filled 
by  the  promotion  of  Lieut.  Col.  White,  which  change  was  fol- 


96  HISTORY   OF  THE   117TH  R.   N.    Y.   V. 

lowed  by  the  advancement  of  Maj.  Daggett  to  the  position  of 
Lieut.  Colonel,  and  Capt.  F.  X.  Meyer  to  that  of  Major.  Be 
side  these,  the  following  official  changes  took  place  during 
our  sojourn  on  Folly  Island  : 

Aug.,       Capt.  L.  K.  Brown  discharged. 

Sept.,       Sergt.  G.  W.  Ross,  appointed  to  2d  Lt. 
2d  Lt.  D.  B.  Magill,  promoted  to  1st  Lt. 

Oct.  21, 1st  Lt.  J.  M.  Lattimer  resigned. 

Oct.  29,  2d  Lt.  A.  Marquisee  resigned. 

Nov.  20,  Capt.  J.  M.  Walcott  transferred  to  V.  R.  C. 

Dec.  27, 1st  Lt.  J.  D.  Kerrigan  promoted. 

Dec.  27, 1st  Lt.  W.  J.  Hunt  promoted. 
2d  Lt.  A.  M.  Erwin  promoted. 
2d  Lt.  Jno.  T.  Thomas  promoted. 

Feb.  14,  Capt.  Chas.  Wheelock  resigned. 

Feb.  16,  Chaplain  J.  T.  Crippen  resigned. 

Mch.  1§,  Wm.  C.  Castleman  appointed  2d  Lt. 

Mch.  19,  J.  Knox  Williams  appointed  2d  Lt. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  117TH    E.   N.   Y.   V.  97 


CHAPTER  IX. 

LEAVE  FOLLY  ISLAND  TO  JOIN  THE  ARMY  OF  THE 

JAMES. 

Departure  from  Folly  Island. — Take  passage  on  board  Transport  "Blackstone," 
Capt.  Berry. — Arrive  at  Fort  Monroe. — Proceed  to  Gloucester  Point. — Re-for 
mation  of  the  10th  Army  Corps. — Advance  to  West  Point.— Reconnoisance. — 
Re-embark,  Steam  back  to  Fort  Monroe. — Thence  up  the  James. — Arrive  at 
Bermuda  Hundred. — Debark.— The  succeeding  movements,  which  culminated 
in  the  Battle  of  Drury's  Bluff. — The  Army  of  the  James  withdraws  and  in 
trenches. 

THE  appointment  of  Gen.  Grant  to  the  position  of  Com- 
mander-in-Chief,  and  the  extensive  re-enforcement  and  con 
centration  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  had  attracted  all 
eyes  expectantly  toward  that  point.  The  Folly  Island  troops 
had  been  looking  for  an  invitation  to  participate.  About  the 
15th  of  April,  we  received  an  order  to  be  ready  to  move  at 
short  notice.  It  was  not*,  however,  till  Monday,  the  18th,  that 
we  began  in  earnest,  literally  to  "  pull  up  stakes."  We  spent 
a  good  portion  of  the  night  standing  about  the  dock  at  Pawnee 
Landing,  and  embarked  on  board  the  Steamboat  Neptune, 
for  Hilton  Head,  about  9  o'clock  P.  M.  Tuesday,  19th.  On 
the  20th,  at  Hilton  Head,  took  passage  on  board  the  Propeller 
Transport  Blackstone,  (Capt.  Berry,)  weighed  anchor  and 
started  north  about  midnight.  On  the  afternoon  of  April  24th, 
we  arrived  at  Gloucester  Point,  and,  one  week  later,  at  West 
Point.  The  cordial  hospitality,  and  social  qualifications  of 


98  HISTORY   OF  THE   117TH  R.   N.    Y.   V. 

the  Captain,  rendered  the  passage  an  unusually  pleasant  one  ; 
his  almost  paternal  solicitude  for  the  comfort  of  the  soldiers, 
endeared  him  to  all. 

Though  we  made  the  point  in  the  afternoon,  by  one  of  those 
unaccountable  delays  so  common  in  military  affairs,  we  were 
not  permitted  to  land  till  late  in  the  evening,  by  which  time 
a  heavy  rain  had  set  in.  The  consequent  darkness  greatly  in 
creased  the  difficulties  of  landing.  The  wharf  was  incommo 
dious  and  sadly  out  of  repair ;  the  men  were  unacquainted 
with  its  extent  and  surroundings.  Every  thing  considered, 
it  was  not  surprising  that  our  debarkation  was  interrupted  by 
theory  of  "man  overboard."  What  a  thrilling  announce 
ment;  there  seemed  very  little  chance  of  recovering  a  person 
thus  situated,  but  a  fair  prospect  of  losing  a  few  more.  All 
wished  to  rescue  him,  but  each  feared  to  move,  lest  he  too 
should  go  a  step  too  far.  For  some  time,  the  sound  of  the 
man's  voice  was  the  only  guide.  Luckily,  while  being  borne 
out  by  the  tide,  he  seized  a  post,  and  managed  to  hold  on 
till  a  light  could  be  brought,  when  he  was  rescued.  After 
getting  on  shore,  the  regiment  formed  for  a  march  up  the 
hill.  The  soil  was  clay,  rendered  vexatiously  treacherous  by 
the  still  falling  rain.  On  gaining  the  tableau,  a  vast  encamp 
ment,  indicated  by  the  light  of  thousands  of  tapers,  spread 
out  before  us.  It  was  a  beautiful  sight,  the  twinkling  lights 
suggesting  the  thought  of  an  inverted  canopy.  Most  of  the 
10th  and  18th  Corps  were  already  there.  When  the  regi 
ment  found  its  place  in  the  brigade  line,  it  was  still  raining, 
and  the  men  were  many  of  them  wet,  and  all  supperless. 
Just  then  occurred  one  of  those  pleasant  little  incidents  which 
are  highly  prized  at  the  time,  always  pleasant  to  contemplate, 


HISTORY   OP   THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V.  99 

and  which  create  a  lasting  bond,  between  military  organiza 
tions.  As  the  boys  were  schooling  themselves  to  the  prospect 
of  retiring  without  replenishing  the  inner  man,  a  party  of  the 
40th  Mass.,  then  in  our  brigade,  called  on  the  117th,  bear 
ing  a  bountiful  supper  of  hard  bread  and  hot  coffee,  each 
company  in  the  former  named  regiment  supplying  the  corres 
ponding  company  in  the  latter.  This  very  opportune  favor 
was  the  beginning  of  a  pleasant  intimacy  between  the  two 
commands. 

We  remained  on  the  Point  about  one  week,  during  which 
time  the  10th  and  18th  corps,  under  Gen.  Butler,  were  re 
organized  for  duty  in  the  field.  The  regiment  was  here  re 
inforced  by  another  installment  of  recruits,  which  had  just 
come  down  in  charge  of  Col.  White,  who  now  rejoined  the 
regiment  after  a  recruiting  tour  and  an  absence  of  several 
weeks. 

The  personal  leisure  which  fell  to  the  lot  of  some  of  the 
officers,  was  improved  by  them  in  a  visit  to  the  opposite  side 
of  the  river,  to  a  scene  twice  memorable  in  the  history  of  our 
country,  and  which  still  bears  the  impress  of  McClellan's 
famous  siege  of  Yorktown.  Gen.  Butler  here  exhibited  his 
New  Orleans  circumspection  and  his  adaptation  to  a  semi- 
military  position,  by  detecting  a  telegram  which  Lieut.  Castle- 
man  had  received  from  his  wife,  who  was  then  near  Baltimore. 
The  Lieut,  was  obliged  to  report  to  Fort  Monroe  and  render 
an  explanation.  It  was  done  to  the  General's  satisfaction. 
During  the  week  passed  there,  a  number  of  officers  assumed 
their  ,new  positions. 

By  the  29th  of  April  there  was  a  good  deal  of  preparation 
in  the  entire  corps.  On  the  evening  of  the  30th,  our  brigade, 


100  HISTORY   OF   THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V. 

the  1st,  under  command  of  Col.  Henry,  of  the  40th  Mass., 
consisting  of  the  89th,  117th,  142d,  3d,  all  N.  Y.  State  regi 
ments,  and  the  40th  Mass.,  embarked  on  four  transports.  We 
lay  at  the  dock  till  morning.  Sometime  during  the  night, 
the  prevailing  tranquillity  was  broken  by  one  of  the  company 
commanders  walking  overboard.  His  characteristic  coolness 
and  self-possession  served  him  well.  He  swam  to  a  boat  which 
was  lowered  for  him,  and  recovered  his  former  footing.  About 
4.30  o'clock,  A.  M.,  May  1st,  weighed  anchor,  and  under  es 
cort  of  two  gunboats,  one  in  the  advance,  the  other  as  rear 
guard,  proceeded  up  the  York  River.  About  10.30  o'clock, 
A.  M.,  reached  West  Point,  which  is  at  the  terminus  of  a 
cape  formed  by  the  convergence  and  confluence  of  the  Pa- 
munky  and  Mattapony  rivers.  Landed,  brigade  formed,  and 
with  the  142d  regiment  in  advance,  marched  'about  two  miles 
tip  the  railroad,  halting  and  encamping  in  a  wood,  along  the 
farther  border  of  which  the  neck  is  traversed  by  a  substantial 
breastwork,  another  memorial  of  McClellan. 

While  marching  in  and  encamping,  the  troops  presented 
the  various  indications  of  personal  character  which  that  pro 
cess  always  reveals. 

The  first  tent  that  appears  is  that  of  the  provident  man. 
The  poles  for  the  frame- work  he  picked  up  a  few  rods  hence 
and  brought  in  with  him  on  his  arrival ;  having  a  few  pieces 
of  twine  always  about  him,  he  is  enabled  to  use  straight  sticks 
instead  of  forked  ones.  Many  of  the  soldiers  are  gone  to  cut 
crotches  upon  which  to  lay  the  ridge  pole.  Yonder  a  soldier 
has  thrown  down  knapsack,  blanket  and  tent,  and  is  lyfng  on 
them  ;  a  few  rods  further  is  another  sitting  on  his  baggage. 
The  recumbent  man  is  eating  ;  the  other  is  intently  perusing 


HISTORY  "OF   THE   117TH   R.   N^V/t^  '  'I'Ol 

the  last  paper.  The  one  is  the  lazy  man,  the  other  the 
reading  man;  the  one  is  never  too  "tired"  to  eat,  the 
other  is  going  to  learn  the  last  news  from  Grant,  even  if 
he  shall  be  ordered  on  picket  duty  before  he  gets  his  tent 
up. 

Pass  along  after  camp  is  formed.  The  fore-handed  soldier 
has  made  a  comfortable  bed  of  boughs  and  is  resting  upon  it ; 
he  will  be  ready  for  a  night  picket.  The  sordid  man  digs 
down  and  burrows,  says  it  will  be  warmer.  The  active  and 
aspiring  man  has  elevated  his  bed  several  inches  above  ground, 
feels  acutely  the  deprivation  of  furniture,  and  is  employing 
his  leisure  in  surrounding  himself  with  temporary  desk  and 
table.  Another  place  you  see  a  tent  carelessly  "thrown 
up,"  while  within,  a  party  of  two  or  three  are  sitting  in 
the  dirt,  engaged  in  a  game  at  cards.  They  are  absorbed ; 
you  may  stand  by  them  several  minutes  without  being  dis 
covered. 

The  old  members  were  quite  amused  at  the  simplicity  of 
some  of  the  recruits.  One,  on  being  informed  that  he  was 
detailed  for  duty,  replied  with  much  spirit,  "Well,  just  you 
tell  the  Colonel  I  can't  go  now,  I  have  got  to  write  some  let 
ters."  Another  was  standing  near  the  Colonel's  tent  when 
presented  with  his  gun  and  accoutrements.  When  told  they 
were  for  him,  he  indignantly  replied,  "I  can't  carry  them 
things,  I've  got  traps  enough  of  my  own  to  carry." 

While  we  were  stopping  here,  the  3dN.  Y.  Yols.  was  sent 
out  on  a  reconnoisance,  and  advanced  some  ten  miles  without 
encountering  any  noteworthy  opposition.  The  rebels  were 
obviously  otherwise  engaged.  Several  foraging  parties  were 
sent  out,  which  returned  with  a  fair  supply  of  provisions.  The 


102  l '  :  HISTORY  OP  THE  117iH  B.  N.  Y.  v. 

families  on  whom  they  called  were  severely  frightened,  but 
were  soon  reassured  and  tranquilized,  on  the  receipt  of  fifty 
cents  per  dozen,  national  currency,  for  eggs,  and  about  the 
same  rate  for  other  articles.  One  of  these  parties  brought 
in,  from  one  of  the  Lee  farms,  two  or  three  so  called  beef  cat 
tle.  An  order  to  move  that  evening,  interrupted  the  proceed 
ings  at  the  shambles,  dispelled  our  illusions  of  a  savory  beef 
steak  supper,  and  unbound  the  confiscated  bullocks,  upon 
which  they  went  galloping  inland. 

This  move  being  a  feint,  we  remained  only  two  or  three 
days.  It  was  now  the  evening  of  May  4th;  spent  a  good  share 
of  the  night  re-embarking.  At  about  4  A.  M.  on  the  follow 
ing  morning,  (5th,)  heaved  anchor  and  steamed  down  the 
river.  Passed  Gloucester  Point  and  Yorktown  about  8  A.  M., 
reached  Fort  Monroe  about  11  o'clock,  and  proceeded  direct 
ly  up  the  James  River.  The  117th  was  on  board  of  tl^p 
Transport  Columbia,  of  Baltimore.  Her  Captain  was  evi 
dently  in  strong  sympathy  with  the  insurgents.  It  was 
clear  that  his  present  service  was  rendered  with  an  almost 
painful  reluctance.  In  the  absence  of  the  officers,  he  flip 
pantly  denounced  the  boys  as  "  damned  blue  coats,"  expa 
tiated  on  the  superiority  of  southern  scenery,  southern  sol 
diery, and  particularly  of  the  superior  excellence  of  con 
federate  generalship.  Though  he  had  nothing  to  say,  when 
asked  to  compare  the  banks  of  the  Hudson  river  with 
those  ofthe  James;  he  soon  after  ventured  this  remark: 
"The  southerners  are  a  smart  people,  because,  just  see,  when 
the  war  began  they  had  nothing,  but  what  they  took  from  the 
government.  You  had  all  the  wealth,  and  the  greater  num 
ber  of  men,  and  now  you  have  been  fighting  them  nearly 


HISTORY   OF   THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V.  103 

three  years,  and  what  have  you  done  ?"  He  was  answered 
thus,  "  Capt.,  you  refute  your  own  argument.  In  one  breath 
you  say  the  southerners  are  a  very  smart  people,  and  then 
in  the  next  you  say  that  when  the  war  began  the  South  had 
nothing,  while  the  North  had  everything.  Your  states  are 
the  older,  ours  the  greater  and  wealthier." 

Proceeded  up  the  James  River,  which  was  again  becoming 
a  busy  stage,  and  by  day  break,  on  the  morning  of  the  6th, 
we  arrived  off  City  Point,  and  soon  after  landed  at  Bermuda 
Hundred  to  join  in  Butler's  "  On  to  Richmond."  The  fleet, 
consisting  of  scores  of  transports,  and  dozens  of  armed  ves 
sels  of  every  description,  together  with  the  attendant  activity, 
afforded  one  of  the  finest  and  most  stirring  scenes  imaginable. 
More  than  a  hundred  craft,  from  the  largest  vessel  for  which 
the  river  was  navigable,  to  the  obedient  little  message  tugs; 
double  ended  ferry  boats,  with  ominous  and  forbidding  can 
non  at  either  extreme ;  iron  clads,  and  raft  looking  things 
bearing  huge  black  "cheese  boxes."  Troops  landing  by  hun 
dreds,  and  marching  to  and  fro  by  companies,  regiments  or 
brigades;  the  transferring  to  the  land,  in  great  numbers,  horses, 
mules,  wagons  and  cannon  ;  those  were  the  sights,  while  the 
sounds  were  as  various  ;  there  were  puffing  of  engines,  whis 
tling  of  steam  throttles,  shouting  and  commanding,  neighing 
of  horses,  braying  of  mules,  the  twang  of  horns,  the  rattle 
of  drums,  &c.  &c.,  altogether  forming  a  prestige  scarcely 
warranted  by  the  immediate  result. 

The  succeeding  ten  days  was  a  period  of  unceasing  watch 
fulness  and  toil.  The  account  might  be  presented  as  well, 
perhaps,  in  diary  form.  Advanced  some  five  or  six  miles 


104  HISTORY   OP   THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V. 

toward  Chesterfield  that  day,  without  provoking   any  oppo 
sition,  when  we  halted  for  the  night.     May  7th,  moved  at 

3  A.  M.,  some   firing  in  front  of  Foster's  brigade,  marched 
within  five  miles  of  Petersburg,  tearing  up  rail-road  track; 
stopped  there  for  the  night,  some  firing  on  the  line  but  no 
general  engagement.     8th,  quiet  but  vigilant ;  9th,  started  at 

4  P.  M.,  at  10  reached  Chester  Station,  fourteen  miles  from 
Richmond,  eight  from  Petersburg.     Moved  toward  Peters 
burg  again,  and  stopped  within  five  or  six  miles  of  that  town, 
on  the  rail-road;  some  firing  in  front.     Brigade  formed  line, 
double  column,  in  afternoon,  a  support  for  another  brigade 
which  was  then  engaged.     That  night  rebels  charged  picket 
line  three  times,  each  time  repulsed.     May  10th,  a  couple 
of  rebel  officers  wait  on  the  General,   demanding  a  surren- 
er.     Suspecting  mischief,  the  Commander  ordered  a  prompt 
withdrawal  of  the  force  toward  the  base ;  the  rebel  officers 
were  detained  till  troops  had  got  under  way  ;  before  reach 
ing  turnpike  were  attacked  by  the  enemy,  and  though  they 
appear  in  considerable  force,  are  repulsed  by  Foster's  brig 
ade.     Returned  to  camp  we  occupied  preceding  night — en 
camped. 

llth.  A  little  more  quiet.  On  the  morning,  (12th,)  troops 
roused  at  2  A.  M.,  not  allowed  to  make  fires  for  cooking. 
Formed  line  3.30  o'clock ;  started  on  march  at  4  A.  M.,  ad 
vanced  toward  rail-road;  command  halted  at  7,  3d  N.  Y.  Regi 
ment  deployed  as  skirmishers,  advanced  a  mile  or  more.  A 
lively  skirmish  fire  ensued.  Our  line  yielded  to  superior 
numbers  and  fell  back  slowly.  About  11  A.  M.,  skirmishers 
rallied  and  advanced,  driving  the  enemy  and  holding  them. 


HISTORY  OP  THE  117TH  E.   N.   Y.   V.  105 

About  4  P.  M.,  encountered  another  advance  by  increased 
force  of  the  enemy,  from  which  time  both  maintain  their 
ground.  Heavy  musketry  continued  till  dark,  at  which  time 
the  enemy  fell  back.  The  3d,  which  had  lost  quite  severely, 
is  now  relieved  by  the  117th.  The  enemy  did  not  renew  the 
attack ;  toward  morning  a  heavy  rain  set  in. 

13th.  Formed  line  at  6  A.  M.,  advanced  to  turnpike,  reach 
ed  it  at  7  A.  M.;  brigade  filed  to  left  of  line,  facing  nearly 
north  and  east.  Advanced  opposite  enemy's  rifle  pits,  lay 
down  on  arms  for  the  night ;  picket  firing  continued  during 
the  dark  hours.  Weather  cold  and  still  rainy. 

May  14th.  Raining  still.     Rebels  have  retreated  from  their 
outer  line  of  rifle  pits.     We  were  now  near  Fort  Jackson, 
south-west    of  Fort  Darling.      Brisk  firing  between  skir 
mishers   all   day.      May  15th,  rather    quiet,   a  portentious 
calm — rained  some  during  the  night.     Weather  heavy  all 
night.     At  dawn,  (16th,)  very  foggy.     Before  it  was  fairly 
light,  and  while  obscured  or  hidden  by  the  impenetrable  fog, 
rebels  made  a  decided  and  vigorous  attack  on  our  line,  press 
ing  the  right  of  the  10th  Corps  and  capturing  Heckman's  brigade. 
They  then  opened  an  intense  fire  on  the  right  of  (our)  1st  Brig 
ade,  2d  Division.  The  6th  Connecticut,  which  was  on  skirmish 
line  in  advance,  gave  way,  vacating  its  temporary  intrench- 
ment,  of  which  the  enemy  took  possession.     This  change 
placed  our  brigade  under  a  great  disadvantage,  admitting  it 
to  a  conspicuous  place  in  the  memorable  battle  of  Drury's 
Bluff.     The  severity  of  that  short  engagement  has  scarcely 
been  surpassed  during  the  war.     The  report  of  musketry  ran 
together  into  one  deafening  roar,  while  the  effectiveness  of  the 


106  HISTORY   OF   THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V. 

firing  was  fully  attested  by  a  wide  spread  carnage  on  either 
side.  The  enemy  was,  on  this  occasion,  incited  not  only  by 
his  intense  hatred  of  the  Yankee  in  general,  but  by  his  ac 
quired  antipathy  to  "  Beast  Butler."  The  design,  and  one 
which  at  that  time  seemed  almost  likely  to  succeed,  was  the 
annihilation  of  the  10th  Army  Corps. 

A  good  portion  of  the  latter  was  now  under  a  heavy  fire, 
executing  the  order  to  retreat,  and  to  confirm  its  safety  our 
brigade  was  thrown  in  at  this  point  to  arrest  the  murderous 
tide.  Bullets  came  as  thickly  as  hail  stones  in  the  driving 
storm.  In  a  few  minutes  Lieut.  Castleman  was  fatally  wound 
ed,  also  Capt.  Brigham;  Lieut.  Pease  was  wounded  and  a  num 
ber  of  privates  ;  then  Col.  White,  and  the  command  fell  up 
on  Lieut.  Col.  Daggett,  who  was  ordered  by  Gen.  Turner,  to 
take  the  position  and  hold  it  at  every  hazard,  so  that  the 
troops  then  filing  out  to  the  rear,  could  retire,  and  the  artillery 
belonging  to  our  division  could  be  got  off  the  field.  The 
position,  despite  the  superior  numbers  of  the  advancing 
foe,  was  held  for  twenty-five  minutes,  when  the  order  came 
to  fall  back,  by  which  time  the  enemy  had  flanked  and 
nearly  surrounded  us.  The  regiment  then  dashed  through 
the  breach,  reformed  under  fire,  and  left  the  field  in  line ; 
company  H,  it  is  said,  maintained  her  line  throughout.  The 
brigade,  and  the  117th  in  particular,  suffered  severely.  Beside 
the  loss  of  our  officers,  some  of  the  bravest  men  fell 
from  the  ranks,  sealing  with  their  lives,  their  devotion  to 
the  flag. 

We  lost  five  or  six  taken  prisoners,  a  number  severely 
wounded,  some  dangerously  so,  who  died  at  the  hospital  a 


HISTORY   ON   THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V.  107 

few  hours  later,  and  a  few  who  were  left  on  the  field 
scarcely  alive.  Three  or  four  who  were  mortally  wounded  early 
in  the  engagement,  were  carried  to  the  field  hospital,  where 
their  hopeless  condition  was  made  known  to  them.  Just  before 
the  order  to  retreat  had  been  given,  Surgeon  Carpenter,  and 
his  nurses,  performed  the  last  sad  ceremony  of  a  hasty  burial 
to  the  remains  of  one  or  two  of  our  regiment.  Since  quite 
early,  the  ambulances  had  been  running  to  the  Division  and 
Corps  hospitals  with  the  wounded.  None  who  saw  them  can 
ever  forget  the  sad  scenes,  nor  can  those  who  heard  them, 
forget  the  groans  of  the  suffering.  Lieut.  Castleman  was 
still  breathing,  but  unconscious.  He  died  the  same  night. 
Capt.  Brigham  lingered  till  the  19th,  and  then  passed  away. 
Several  tried  and  true  private  soldiers  died  within  thirty- 
six  hours.  Death  scenes  were  on  every  hand.  The  loss  in 
the  regiment  was  some  eighty-nine. 

The  service  rendered  by  the  117th,  and  her  four  sister  regi 
ments  in  this  terrific  battle,  is  the  more  creditable,  in  view  of 
the  fact  that  they  were  obliged,  through  nearly  the  whole 
engagement,  to  act  independently  ;  the  brigade  Commander, 
Col.  A.,  being  absent  and  far  to  the  rear,  as  was  alleged,  by 
virtue  of  a  severe  attack  of  discretion. 

After  the  army  had  withdrawn,  or  been  repulsed  to  the 
shortest  line  from  the  James  to  the  Appomattox,-  intrench 
ing  became  the  order  along  the  front ;  from  the  aggressive, 
we  were  finally  compelled  to  resort  to  the  defensive.  Accord 
ingly  a  heavy  breastwork  was  thrown  up  across  the  peninsula, 
from  the  James  on  our  right,  to  the  Appomattox  on  our  left, 
but  unfortunately  at  a  distance  from  Richmond  and  from  the 


108  HISTORY  OF  THE  117TH  R.   N.   Y.    V. 

rail-road,  which  rendered  the  loyal  army  a  source  of  appre 
hension  rather  than  of  actual  damage. 

Only  a  brief  interruption  of  rail-road  communication  be 
tween  Richmond  and  Petersburg  had  been  effected.  Having 
pressed  General  Butler  out  of  range  of  the  road,  the  enemy 
also  intrenched,  and  began  a  series  of  attempts  to  dislodge 
him.  We  remained  in  camp  in  this  vicinity  two  or  three 
weeks,  going  to  the  front  every  time  the  rebels  threatened 
our  line. 


HISTORY  OF  THE   117TH  R.   N.   Y.   V.  109 


CHAPTER    X. 

COLD    HARBOR,    CAPTURE     OF    PETERSBURG 

HEIGHTS,  BERMUDA  HUNDRED  AND. 

PETERSBURG  TRENCHES. 

Withdraw  from  Bermuda  line,— City  Point. — Take  Transports. — White  House.— •_ 
Cold  Harbor.— 'Incidents*— •  Casualties. — Death  of  Lt.  Dann. — Rebel  Inhuman 
ity. — Tenth  Corps,  covers  Retreat  of  Army  of  Potomac. — A  Hard  March. — _ 
Change  of  Base.— On  to  Petersburg. — Colored  Troops. — Assault  on  the  forti,. 
fications  of  Petersburg  Heights. — Their  Capture. — Non-improvement  of  the 
"Golden  opportunity," — The  Enemy  arrives  in  Force. — Death  of  Capt  Stone. 
— Bermuda  line  threatened. — Move  to  that  Point. — Return  to  Petersburg.-^.. 
Duty  in  Trenches. — Casualties. — Capt.  Hunt  woundtedl— Col.  White  taken  ill, 
and  obliged  to  go  to  Hospital. 

ON  the  28th  of  May,  in  the  afternoon,  we  formed  and 
marched  towards  the  Appomattox,  crossed  that  stream,  and 
bore  towards  Petersburg.  Many  supposed  that  town  to  be 
our  objective  point.  Late  at  night,  we  bivouaced  in  a  wheat 
field,  south-west  of  City  Point.  We  had  moved  rapidly,  dur 
ing  the  latter  part  of  the  march,  and  a  few  had  fallen  out  and 
were  far  back  in  the  rear.  At  sunrise,  we  formed  to  resume- 
the  march,  and  proceeded  by  a  circuitous  rout  to  City  Point. 
On  arriving  there  we  were  ready  for  breakfast.  The  brigade 
was  gladly  welcomed  by  the  sutlers  and  hucksters,  and  some 
of  them  were  equally  pleased  at  its  departure.  About  noon, 
we  embarked  and  sailed  to  Whitehouse,  Ya.,  arriving  there 
May  31st.  A  heavy  engagement  was  then  in  progress  at  Cold 
Harbor.  The  brigade  lay  on  the  Lee  plantation,  some  three 
8 


110  HISTORY   OP  THE  117TH  E.   N.    Y.    V. 

days,  doing  picket  duty,  when  we  marched  to  Cold  Harbor. 
Before  starting,  and  on  the  way,  we  saw  the  wounded,  and  in 
several  instances,  the  bodies  of  the  dead,  being  brought  in 
from  the  front.  Arrived  at  the  scene  of  the  late  conflict, 
before  day  break,  rested  an  hour  or  two,  when  the  brigade, 
under  command  of  Col.  Henry,  filed  in  near  the  battle 
ground,  and  took  position. 

Our  brigade  line  extended  along  a  ridge,  the  enemy  being 
at  the  foot  of  the  slope,  and  in  the  border  of  a  wood.  Behind 
us,  also,  was  a  woodland,  half  or  three-quarters  of  a  mile 
in  depth,  the  surface  conformation  of  which  was  generally  as 
follows ;  from  the  edge  of  the  wood  and  longitudinally  with 
.our  line,  a  descent,  varying  from  a  gentle  decline  to  a  sudden 
slope  ;  at  the  foot,  a  valley,  at  one  end  marshy,  or  springy, 
with  a  small  pond  in  the  centre.  We  had  not  gained  our 
position  in  front  of  the  woods,  before  the  enemy  began  a 
brisk  musketry  firing,  which  a  reply  from  us  tended  to  in 
crease,  and  which  was  kept  up  almost  without  interruption, 
during  our  nine  days'  stay  at  that  point.  At  first,  we  were 
sheltered  by  the  crest  of  the  hill,  but,  soon  the  enemy  ad 
vanced,  and  gained  a  better  range ;  then  they  availed  them- 
.selves  of  the  most  eligible  positions,  such  as  knolls  and  tree 
tops,  from  which  their  sharp  shooters  harrassed  us  sorely ;  we 
lost  several  killed,  thus,  in  a  few  hours.  A  head  or  hand 
could  not  be  exposed  above  our  fortified  line,  without  draw 
ing  the  musket  shot  or  minnie.  A  man  sitting  a  few  steps 
from  the  intrenchments,  sheltered  as  he  supposed,  in  earnest 
.or  mirthful  conversation,  would  suddenly  cease  speaking,  his 
comrades,  on  looking  round,  would  be  shocked  at  the  sight  of 
his  prostrate  <jorpse.  Perhaps  another  would  be  killed  or 
wounded,  while  in  the  act  of  adjusting,  or  removing  the  body. 


HISTORY   OF  THE   117TH  R.   N.    Y.   V.  Ill 

A  day  or  two  later,  the  enemy  extended  his  line  round 
our  right,  gaining  a  position,  from  which  he  could  fire  hori 
zontally  and  lengthwise  through  the  vale,  by  which  device 
they  rendered  it  literally  a  "valley  of  the  shadow  of  death." 
We  then  sought  shelter  in  erecting  occasional  traverses  up 
and  down  the  slope ;  they  served  a  good  purpose ;  but  yet, 
except  immediately  behind  these,  men  fell  everywhere.  All 
day  long,  and  at  all  hours  of  the  night,  bullets  buzzed  more 
plentifully  than  beetles  in  summertime. 

Lest  we  should  gain  partial  immunity  in  distance,  fey 
withdrawing  to  a  remote  part  of  the  woods,  where  their 
musketry  might  not  harm  us,  they  next  ranged  several 
mortars  along  their  line,  with  which  they  dropped  shells 
promiscuously  among  us,  in  different  portions  of  the  wood. 
We  could  hear  the  deep  report  of  the  mortar,  attended 
with  a  jarring  sensation,  as  it  lifted  the  death-dealing 
missile,  to  drop,  no  one  knew  exactly  where. 

"Aye,  there's  the  rub,"  to  know  its  exact  destination  on 
this  devil's  half  acre.  Hark;  you  will  soon  know.  It's 
coming.  You  may  as  well  sit  still,  in  your  tent :  the  roof  is 
of  no  account  in  the  probable  contingency.  Yet,  from  in 
fancy,  you  have  been  so  prone  to  regard  a  roof  as  a  shelter, 
that  you  can  now  almost  beguile  yourself  into  a  momentary 
delusion  of  security  ;  there  it  comes,  whiz! — whiz! — whiz! — 
Dont  start ;  keep  cool ;  a  jar,  a  report  and  a  crash.  "It  fell 
near  us."  Yes ;  among  the  horses  ;  three  have  broken  loose  ; 
two  are  dead,  and  disemboweled ;  one  of  them  your  own 
horse — never  mind.  Thank  Heaven  it  is  not  the  owner. 
Finish  that  story  you  began  two  hours  ago.  "I  am  not  in 
terested  in  stories  as  much  as  I  was.  There !  they  are  start 
ing  another  shell. — Another !  and  still  another ! 


112  HISTORY  OF   THE   117TH  R.    N.    Y.   V. 

The  ability  to  continue  uninterruptedly  in  the  narration  of 
a  story,  while  there  were  three  shells  on  their  aerial  circuit, 
was  regarded  as  a  proof  of  nerve. 

At  length  the  enemy  flanked  us  so  far,  that  our  field  hos 
pital  fell  within  range  of  his  field  artillery.  There  were  no 
armed  troops  near  the  hospital,  yet  incredibly  barbarous  as 
it  may  seem,  the  rebels,  deliberately  trained  their  guns  on 
this  point,  and  shelled  the  locality  most  mercilessly.  Much 
inconvenience  and  suffering  followed  this  exhibition  of  wan 
ton  cruelty. 

The  casualties  in  the  regiment,  while  we  were  at  Cold 
Harbor,  were :  Lieut.  B.  F.  Miller,  wounded  by  solid  shot 
from  field  piece,  fractured  leg.  Lieut.  Dann,  killed  by  mus 
ketry.  Privates,  Win.  H.  Servey,  Co.  E.  killed  by  musketry. 
Michael  Carlin,  Co.  K.  killed  by  musketry ;  Several  others, 
severely  wounded. 

It  was  now  apparent,  that  another  change  of  base 
was  pending,  and,  furthermore,  that  this  portion  of  the  10th 
Army  Corps,  would  have  to  cover  the  withdrawal  of  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac.  Soon  after  noon  of  the  12th,  the  invalid 
soldiers,  who  could  march  slowly,  were  started  for  the  White 
House,  with  orders  to  move  as  rapidly  as  their  strength  would 
permit. 

About  8  o'clock  in  the  evening,  the  troops  began  to  move 
cautiously  from  the  trenches,  when  we  set  out  more  on  a 
race,  than  a  march.  We  made  one  of  those  forced  marches, 
which  always  extends  the  sick  list.  We  rushed  through  to 
White  house,  by  morning,  where  with  less  than  the  usual 
delay,  we  embarked,  and  steamed  down  the  Pamunky. 
Thus  ended  again  our  on  to  Richmond,  by  the  Cold  Harbor 
route.  Our  passage  down  the  Paniunky,  and  the  York,  was 


HISTORY   OP   THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V.  113 

a  most  delightful  one.  The  air  was  balmy  with  summer 
mildness,  and  fragrant  with  the  odor  of  blossoms.  The  scen 
ery  was  enchanting,  and  inspiring,  but  the  fatigue  of  the  last 
night's  march,  induced  an  early  indifference  to  natural  sur 
roundings. 

On  arriving  at  Fort  Monroe,  we  again  set  out  up  the  James. 
In  the  vicinity  of  Harrison's  landing,  we  encountered  an  ex 
tensive  pontoon,  which  had  been  laid  for  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  whose  retreat  the  10th  Corps  had  covered,  and  who 
had  marched  across  the  Peninsula.  A  section  of  the  pontoon 
having  been  removed,  for  that  purpose,  the  fleet  passed. 

The  march  of  the  10th  Corps  troops,  from  the  Cold  Har 
bor  line  to  Whitehouse,  had  been  severely  rapid,  but  the 
distance  was  less  than  that  passed  more  leisurely  by  the 
Army  of  Gen.  Meade. 

On  the  night  of  the  14th,  we  encamped  a  mile  or  two  in 
rear  of  the  Bermuda  line.  Soon  after  midnight,  there  was 
that  commotion,  which  precedes  action. 

Our  Brigade  soon  formed,  and  marched  with  the  rest  of 
the  Division  toward  the  Appomattox,  which  was  crossed  be 
fore  day. 

About  sunrise,  we  gained  a  high  bluff,  on  the  south  side  of 
the  Appomattox.  There  the  Brigade  halted.  Our  rapid 
change  of  base,  revealed  to  all,  that  we  were  running  a  race 
with  the  enemy,  with  Petersburg  as  our  object. 

Scarcely  had  the  sun  cleared  the  horizon,  e'er,  the  sound 
of  musketry  came  from  the  front,  an  indication  that  the, 
colored  troops,  which  had  precede^  us,  were  engaged.  These 
brave  fellows,  with  little  delay,  carried  the  outer  defensive 
lines,  and  again  advanced.  A  second  line  was  assaulted,  and 
taken  by  them  soon  after.  Two  Divisions  of  the  18th  Corps, 


114  HISTORY  OP  THE  117TH   R.   N."  Y.    V. 

were  then  sent  forward,  and  most  of  the  colored  troops,  who 
had  done  so  well  in  the  morning,  were  withdrawn. 

Advancing,  we  met  the  loaded  ambulances,  and  the  hob 
bling  wounded.  These  black  soldiers,  were  highly  elated, 
even  those  who  were  severely  wounded,  greeted  their  white 
compatriots,  with,  "Tell  you  boys,  we  made  um  get;"  "We 
druv  em."  On  that  occasion,  those  who  were  politically  the 
most  conservative,  suddenly  experienced,  an  accession  of 
respect  for  the  chattel  on  this  discovery  of  its  "equal"  value 
in  a  possible  emergency. 

We  had  come  by  a  circuitous  route,  on  which  account  our 
brigade  was  the  extreme  left  of  the  assaulting  force,  on 
reaching  the  Heights.  Between  us  and  the  enemy,  was  a 
piece  of  woods,  over  and  through  which  they  were  throwing 
shot  and  shell.  Before  noon,  our  line  formed  and  advanced 
through  the  wood.  At  this  stage,  there  was  a  good  deal  of 
delay.  At  length,  a  skirmish  line  was  thrown  out,  and  ad 
vanced  a  little  distance  toward  two  or  three  redoubts, 
which  were  promptly  taken,  when  about  twenty  pieces  of  field 
artillery,  which  had  been  ordered  up  by  Gen.  Smith,  (Baldy,) 
our  division  commander,  were  ranged  along  the  outer  border 
of  the  wood,  when  they  concentrated  upon  the  works  beyond, 
such  a  storm  of  shot  and  shell,  as  to  appall  the  garrison. 
At  the  same  time,  the  entire  skirmish  line,  charged  across 
the  intermediate  valley,  took  and  held  the  works  on  the 
heights.  The  officers  from  the  117th  regiment,  who  were 
conspicuous,  in  this  assault,  were  Capt.  A.  R.  Stevens,  and 
Capt.  W.  J.  Hunt.  The  former  in  command  of  the  skirmish 
line.  They  were  in  advance,  and  the  first  officers  in  the  cap 
tured  works.  It  was  a  sharp  contest,  and  a  splendid  victory. 
Capt.  Stevens,  received  a  severe  wound  in  the  arm.  Capt. 


HISTORY   OP  THE   117TH  R.   N.   Y.   V.  115 

Hunt  escaped  without  injury.  They  are  both  entitled  to 
great  credit  for  their  gallantry  on  this  occasion.  The  break 
made  by  this  charge,  disconcerted  and  demoralized  the  troops 
in  the  defenses. 

The  enemy,  evidently  had  been  unprepared  for  a  forcible 
attack.  They  had  been  outstripped  and  outflanked,  and 
when  we  arrived,  they  were  on  their  way  from  Cold 
Harbor.  The  defense  of  this  point,  had  accordingly  devolved 
on  a  small  force,  mostly  of  undisciplined  troops;  there  were 
both  prisoners  and  dead  in  citizen's  dress,  and  some  apparent 
ly  just  from  the  shop.  The  elaborate  and  formidable  charac 
ter  of  these  works,  testified  to  the  cheapness  of  our  victory. 
That  evening  of  the  15th  of  June,  we  stood  on  the  heights, 
and,  by  the  light  of  a  brilliant  moon,  contemplated  the  silent 
valley,  arid  beheld  the  nearly  defenceless  city.  Why  we  did 
not  then  go  down  and  possess  them,  is  the  question,  which 
occurred,  and  recurred  times  innumerable,  during  the 
months  of  carnage,  which  followed  on  that  line.  On  the 
next  day,  there  was  some  skirmishing,  but  still  on  our  side 
little  doing,  except  the  arranging  of  the  2nd  and  6th  Corps 
on  our  left.  On  the  part  of  the  enemy,  however,  there  was 
every  indication  of  activity. 

Petersburg  depot  was  a  busy  place.  Frequently,  during 
the  night,  the  sound  of  arriving  trains  could  be  distinctly 
heard,  and,  on  the  morning  of  the  16th,  field  glasses  revealed 
the  incoming  tide  of  gray  backs.  The  enemy  was  evidently 
straining  every  nerve,  and  crowding  every  avenue,  to  avert 
any  further  reverse.  General  Butler,  with  Hinks'  Division, 
attempted  to  interrupt  the  progress  of  the  enemy  in  the  work 
of  transferring  his  forces,  by  advancing  from  the  Bermuda  line, 
to  cut  and  hold  the  Richmond  and  Petersburg  Railroad.  He 


116  HISTORY   OP  THE   117TH  R.   N.    Y.    V. 

struck  the  road,  destroyed  it  for  a  short  distance,  but  was  soon 
overborne  and  pushed  back  by  superior  numbers.  The  inter 
ruption  was  brief.  This  day  Gen.  Grant  rode  by  inspecting 
the  line.  Toward  evening  there  broke  out  on  the  left,  a 
very  sharp  musketry,  which  was  kept  up  for  some  time.  It 
was  occasioned  by  an  attempt  on  the  part  of  the  2d  or  6th 
Corps  to  advance.  It  was  attended  with  no  satisfactory 
result. 

The  night  passed  quietly.  Our  skirmishers  in  the  first  vale, 
had  gradually  crowded  the  enemy  back  over  the  first  wooded 
eminence.  On  the  17th  there  was  quiet  on  this  part  of  the 
line.  The  regiment  was  not  far  in  advance  of  the  place  oc 
cupied  by  it  on  the  first  night.  It  was  lying  on  a  high  ridge, 
which  was  so  bounded  by  ravines  as  to  present  an  acute  angle, 
not  unlike  that  of  an  iron  wedge,  as  it  would  appear  lying  on  its 
side;  the  point  was  on  our  right.  A  heavy  rebel  breastwork, 
reversed  by  our  men,  formed  the  crest  of  the  eminence.  The 
afternoon  was  quiet,  a  shot  being  rarely  heard,  and  the 
enemy's  skirmish  line  so  distant,  that  the  boys  soon  grew 
careless,  exposing  themselves  above  the  breastwork,  and  some 
even  walked  over,  and  laterally  on  the  embankment.  Capt. 
R.  L.  Stone  of  Co.  B,  an  excellent  man  and  officer,  having 
just  lit  his  pipe,  was  leisurely  enjoying  it  and  the  scenery. 
Unhappily,  while  strolling  about,  he  mounted  the  embank 
ment  to  view  the  prospect  below.  Our  skirmishers  had  gone 
out  so  far,  and  the  mutual  cessation  of  firing  was  so  complete, 
that  few  realized  the  position  as  dangerous  ;  those  standing 
by  the  bank  were  exposed  to  the  view  of  the  enemy,  but  were 
not  so  conspicuous.  The  Captain  had  traced  our  skirmish 
line  and  made  some  remarks  concerning  it,  and  turned 
for  a  retrospect,  when  he  fell.  Already  on  reaching  the 


HISTORY   OF   THE    117TH   R.    N.   Y.    V.  117 

ground,  had  the  peculiar  ashy  hue  which  attends  sudden 
death,  spread  over  the  surface.  The  body  was  already  breath 
less  and  pulseless.  The  suspension  of  life  had  been  instan 
taneous.  On  examination  it  was  found  that  a  miimie  ball 
had  entered  the  back  part  of  the  head,  traversed  the  brain 
and  lodged  back  of  the  left  eye,  which  it  protruded.  The 
rebel  sharp-shooter,  or  assassin,  for  under  the  circumstances 
he  was  scarcely  less,  must  have  been  at  a  good  distance,  as  the 
report  of  the  piece  was  not  heard  by  us.  This  snatching  away 
of  one  of  our  number,  while  in  the  enjoyment  of  a  sense  of 
security,  deeply  impressed  all  who  witnessed  it,  and  cast  a 
gloom  over  the  entire  command. 

The  enemy,  having  since  morning  made  a  demonstration 
against  the  Bermuda  line,  about  sunset,  the  brigade,  then 
under  Col.  Bell,  started  to  re-enforce  it.  As  we  withdrew, 
and  much  of  the  time  during  our  march,  we  heard  the  sound 
of  heavy  musketry.  It  was  on  account  of  an  engagement  in 
duced  by  an  attack  on  Burnside's  front,  and  on  the  left  of  our 
late  position.  We  halted  in  rear  of  and  midway  on  the  Ber 
muda  line.  Our  brigade  was  now  reformed,  the  13th  Indiana 
being  mustered  out  by  virtue  of  expired  time,  the  112th 
Regiment  New  York  Yols.  was  added  as  substitute. 

The  112th  Regiment  was  from  Chatauqua  County.  It 
was  of  nearly  cotemporary  muster  with  the  117th.  It  was  of 
a  high  moral  tone  and  admirably  officered.  It  lost  four  of  its 
staff  in  the  service,  three  of  whom  fell  on  the  field,  the  other 
also  expired  at  the  post  of  duty. 

The  142nd  Regiment  New  York  Yols.  was  of  similar  ma 
terial.  In  anticipation  of  the  extension  of  the  line  south 
ward  beyond  Petersburg,  the  intrenchments  here  had  been 
raised  and  strengthened,  with  the  object  of  making  them 


118  HISTORY  OP  THE    117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V. 

defensible  by  an  inconsiderable  force.  The  position  of  our 
brigade  was  on  the  right  of  this  (Bermuda)  line,  the  112th 
occupying  the  extreme  right,  overlooking  the  James  River 
and  the  small  peninsula  which  Gen.  Butler  soon  after  attempt 
ed  to  isolate  with  his  Dutch  Gap  Canal.  Late  in  the  after 
noon  of  the  23d,  the  enemy  opened  a  fierce  artillery  fire  on 
the  line.  They  dropped  the  shot  and  shell  with  great  accura 
cy  among-our  troops,  and  though  the  men  enjoyed  the  shelter 
of  the  breastworks,  there  were  several  serious  casualties. 
After  about  an  hour  the  firing  ceased,  and  we  received  an 
other  order  to  prepare  to  march.  Our  sojourn  here  had  been 
of  only  about  five  day's  duration.  We  were  soon  ready, 
and  early  in  the  evening  set  out  for  another  passage  of  the  Ap- 
pomattox.  By  a  rapid  movement  we  reached  Petersburg  front 
soon  after  midnight.  We  were  posted  just  in  advance  of  the 
point  we  left  on  the  17th.  The  place  on  the  line  of  this,  (Gen. 
Turner's)  Division,  was  between  the  9th  and  18th  Corps,  the 
former  on  the  left,  the  latter  on  our  right.  And  now  follow 
ed  a  month  of  the  most  arduous,  perilous  and  exhausting 
kind  of  duty.  The  weather  was  exceedingly  warm.  The 
opposing  lines  were  but  a  short  distance  apart.  The  men  had 
to  remain  in  the  trenches  night  and  day,  in  constant  readiness 
for  an  attack ;  while  the  rebels  maintained,  not  only  a  defen 
sive,  but  a  most  murderous  offensive  function.  They  were 
vigilant  and  watchful  in  the  extreme,  employing  the  time  in 
an  unceasing  skirmish,  never  missing  an  opportunity  to  make 
a  target  of  whatever  portion  of  the  person,  one  might  inad 
vertently  discover  above  the  rudimentary  breastwork.  Many 
a  poor  boy  here  lost  his  life,  through  forgetfulness  of  the  de 
ficiencies  of  the  embankment,  or  through  want  of  a  true  esti 
mate  of  the  inhumanity  of  rebels.  The  sound  of  musketry 


HISTORY   OF  THE   117TH   R.   N.   Y.   Y.  119 

was  heard  at  all  hours.  Lest  darkness  should  afford  us  a 
temporary  respite,  they  got  the  range  of  our  thoroughfares  and 
made  the  knowledge  contribute  to  our  discomfort  in  the  night 
time  ;  co-horn  mortars,  ranged  in  rear  of  their  line,  dropped 
shells  along  and  not  unfrequently  in  our  trenches.  Confine 
ment  to  a  reclining  or  at  least  a  cramped  posture,  so  close 
behind  the  embankment  that  a  breeze  never  visited  them,  the 
bare  soil  under  and  about  them,  the  rays  of  a  scorching  sun 
upon  them  during  the  day,  the  chill  dews  by  night — no  water 
with  which  to  bathe  their  dust-covered  faces — thus  they  lay 
for  days  and  weeks,  with  the  dreaded  bullet  whizzing  by,  and 
the  ponderous  shell  exploding  near  and  among  them. 

The  unavoidable  lack  of  cleanliness  and  exercise,  the  vari 
ous  privations  and  bodily  discomforts,  together  with  the  con 
tinued  wearing  apprehension  of  evil,  began  to  tell  decidedly 
on  the  health  of  the  men.  This  ever  present  sense  of  danger 
prevented  that  mental  remission  and  muscular  relaxation, 
without  which,  seeming  repose  is  not  rest.  Their  situation, 
amid  these  surroundings,  was  a  consuming  fire.  No  constitu 
tion  could  long  resist  their  depressing  influences.  An  inter 
mediate  hospital  was  established  for  the  reception  of  the  care 
worn.  It  was  called  "  convalescent  camp  ;"  and  being  a  mile 
or  more  to  the  rear,  it  afforded  a  cessation  of  the  vigil.  The 
quiet  surroundings  enabled  many  to  obtain  the  much  needed 
renovating  sleep.  Scores  thus  recruited,  in  the  course  of  a 
week  returned  to  the  front. 

The  line  where  we  were,  lay  across  a  cornfield  ;  previous  to 
our  arrival  at  this  point,  an  unsuccessful  attempt  to  advance, 
had  resulted  in  the  death  of  a  number  of  union  soldiers, 
whose  bodies  were  lying  about  in  numbers,  between  our  line 
and  the  enemy's.  The  rebels  had  denied  us  the  privilege 


120  HISTORY   OP  THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V. 

of  removing  the  dead,  and  persisted  in  that  refusal.  The 
corpses  presented  a  sad  and  dispiriting  sight,  and  the 
weather  being  warm,  decomposition  soon  occurred,  making 
the  stench  another  source  of  discomfort.  Several  times  at 
night,  the  boys  tried  to  bury  those  bodies,  but  the  rebels  were 
so  vigilant  and  jealous  as  to  make  the  attempt  hazardous,  as 
the  slightest  sound  proceeding  from  the  inter-vale,  was  likely 
to  bring  on  a  lively  musketry  fire.  The  cases  of  serious  illness 
were  unusually  numerous.  It  was  here  that  Col.  White's 
remarkable  powers  of  endurance  failed.  He  had  scarcely  been 
relieved  from  duty  a  day  for  several  months,  and  here  he  was 
at  the  front  constantly,  enduring  the  deprivations  and  perils 
of  that  position.  He  refused  to  retire  from  the  command, 
till  assured  by  his  friends  and  the  surgeons,  that,  in  his  con 
dition,  it  was  imprudent  for  him  to  remain. 

The  bullets,  which  came  buzzing  over  the  intrenchments, 
as  they  gravitated  in  rear  of  the  line,  produced  many  a  casu 
alty.  Beside,  the  lynx-eyed  sharp  shooters,  sometimes  perch 
ed  at  a  commanding  height,  picked  our  boys  singly.  We  thus 
lost  quite  a  number,  of  whom  it  might  literally  be  said,  "killed 
in  battle."  Death  scenes  occurred  which  will  long  remain 
in  the  memory  of  the  writer.  Some  noble  boys  of  the 
117th,  there  gave  up  their  lives  for  the  cause.  That  gallant 
officer,  Captain  Hunt,  whose  bravery  was  so  conspicuous  on 
the  15th  of  June,  in  the  capture  of  these  works,  now,  a  month 
later,  received  his  fatal  wound  at  a  moment  when  he  scarcely 
dreamed  of  danger. 

While  the  opposing  forces  were  lying  in  their  respective 
intrenchments,  the  daily  casualties  along  the  line,  in  the  aggre 
gate  were  many.  From  the  hospital,  belonging  jointly  to  the 


HISTORY    OP   THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V.  121 

18tb  and  10th  Corps,  a  train  of  ambulances  loaded  with 
wounded,  was  sent  to  City  Point  almost  daily. 

We  suffered  heavily  also  from  two  or  three  badly  managed 
and  unsuccessful  attempts  to  advance  the  line. 


122  HISTORY   OF  THE  117TH  R.    N.    Y.    V. 


CHAPTER    XI. 

SPRINGING    OF    THE    MINE,    CROSSING    OF    THE 

JAMES. 

Second  Division  withdraws  from  Petersburg  trenches. — Explosion  of  the  Mine. — 
Severe  march  to  Bermuda  line  — Suffering  of  the  troops,  from  heat  and  over- 
exertion. — Formation  of  Camp  in  rear  of  Bermuda  intrenchments. — A  pleasant 
Camp. — Military  events  on  the  line,  during  the  month. — Return  to  Petersburg. 
— Duty  in  the  trenches. — Sickness. — Incidents. — Tenth  A.  C.  retires  to  the  high 
ground,  two  miles  to  the  rear.— Preparation  for  a  new  enterprise. 

THERE  was  but  little  to  vary,  and  nothing  to  alleviate  the 
stern  service  in  the  trenches,  during  nearly  the  whole  month. 
Public  attention  was  for  a  short  time  directed  towards  Wash 
ington,  which  was  threatened  by  another  rebel  raid.  Though 
it  did  not  effect  any  relaxation  of  Gen.  Grant's  hold  on  Peters 
burg  and  Richmond,  it  caused  the  sudden  transfer  of  the 
6th  Corps,  and  its  timely  arrival  at  the  threatened  Capital. 
The  Niagara  peace  negotiations  which  terminated  so  abruptly 
in  the  President's  note,  "  To  whom  it  may  concern"  occurred 
about  this  date. 

The  final  scene  of  this,  our  second  siege  at  Petersburg,  is 
happily  related  by  Chaplain  Hyde,  of  the  112th  R.  N.  Y.  Y., 
in  his  History  of  that  regiment.  I  can  not  perhaps  do  better 
than  lay  it  before  the  reader. 

"On  the  evening  of  the  29th  July,  the  2d  Division,  10th 
A.  C.,  moved  out  from  the  rifle  pits  they  had  been  occupying 
(the  colored  troops  taking  the  position  they  left)  and  formed 


HISTORY   OF   THE   117TH   E.    N.    Y.    V.  123 

in  the  rear  of  the  9th  Corps,  as  support  to  the  column  which 
was  to  storm  Cemetery  Hill  and  take  Petersburg.  For 
more  than  a  month  there  had  been  rumors  of  an  operation  in 
progress,  that  when  finished  would  electrify  the  land.  It  was 
at  first  only  talked  about  in  whispers,  with  the  injunction  to 
be  very  careful  not  to  talk  about  it.  But  though  intended  to 
be  kept  secret,  it  was  well  known  six  weeks  before  it  was 
finished  that  a  Pennsylvania  Regiment  from  the  mining 
regions,  was  at  work  undermining  one  of  the  enemy's  princi 
pal  redoubts  on  Cemetery  Hill.  A  huge  chamber  was  exca 
vated,  and  filled  with  gunpowder.  It  was  rumored  that  the 
mine  would  be  sprung  the  night  of  the  3d,  and  that  Grant 
would  make  a  4th  of  July  offering  of  Petersburg  this  year 
to  the  nation,  as  of  Vicksburg  a  year  ago.  At  last,  tired  of 
waiting,  the  soldiers  began  to  think  that  the  story  was  a  hoax 
of  the  same  description  as  much  of  the  news  that  circulates 
in  camp.  But  this  evening  it  was  a  sure  thing.  The  mine 
was  ready.  Grant  had  sent  the  2d  Corps  across  the  north  of 
the  James  a  few  days  before,  so  as  to  create  the  belief  that  he 
was  contemplating  another  change  of  base.  A  large  part  of 
the  force  in  Petersburg  had  been  withdrawn  to  check  him, 
and  now  the  2d  Corps  was  back  again ;  the  plan  thus  far  had 
worked  well  and  promised  success.  The  mine  was  to  be 
exploded  early  in  the  morning  at  2  o'clock,  the  assault  made 
immediately,  and  with  the  heights  in  our  possession,  the 
enemy  must  evacuate  Petersburg.  The  mine,  however,  was 
not  exploded  until  5  o'clock;  then  there  was  an  unaccounta 
ble  delay  of  nearly  an  hour  before  the  advance  was  made, 
then  a  lack  of  energy  and  directness ;  both  officers  and  men 
seemed  to  be  looking  round  to  see  what  they  could  find. 
Before  the  crest  of  the  hill  was  carried,  the  enemy  had  re- 


124  HISTORY  OP  THE   11TTH   R.    N.   Y.   V. 

covered  from  their  suprise,  and  the  assault  was  resolutely 
met  and  repulsed.  We  had,  however,  a  good  position,  and 
should  have  held  it  until  the  face  of  the  enemy's  works  at 
this  point  had  been  altered,  and  artillery  mounted  upon  it  to 
operate  against  the  enemy.  But  this  was  neglected,  and  now 
an  unaccountable  panic  occurred,  which  threw  the  assailants 
into  utter  confusion,  and  converted  the  hoped  for  success  of 
yesterday  into  mortifying  disaster. 

They  were  driven  back  with  great  loss.  Adjutant  (since 
Lieutenant  Colonel)  Lentz,  of  the  13th  Indiana,  a  cool,  brave 
soldier,  thus  describes  the  scene  in  front  of  our  Division. 
'  We  (the  13th  Indiana  as  skirmishers)  occupied  the  debris 
of  the  exploded  earthwork,  also  the  rifle  pits,  which  extended 
toward  the  right,  facing  our  own.  The  enemy  had  also  been 
driven  from  a  second  line,  which  was  a  short  distance  from  the 
first  line,  and  the  space  between  the  two  was  occupied  by  the 
colored  troops  in  column.  The  enemy  apparently  in  small 
force,  came  up  the  acclivity  from  towards  Petersburg!!,  leis 
urely,  at  a  trail  arms,  and  as  though  they  were  about  to 
deliver  themselves  up.  The  order  was  given  to  cease  firing, 
thinking  the  enemy  meant  to  surrender.  When  within 
favorable  distance,  they  suddenly  halted,  and  poured  in  a 
well  directed  and  rapid  fire.  The  white  officers  ordered  their 
men  to  fall  back,  and  it  is  said  repeated  the  order  three  times 
before  it  was  obeyed.  At  last  they  started,  threw  down  their 
arms,  and  rushed  back  terribly  panic  stricken,  and  sweeping 
everything  before  them  in  their  wild  flight.  White  troops 
and  black  were  indiscriminately  mingled  in  this  awful 
stampede. 

In  order  to  get  out,  it  was  necessary  to  pass  through  a 
narrow  pit  several  rods  in  length ;  here  the  enemy  concen- 


HISTORY  OF  THE  117TH  R.   N.   Y.   V.  125 

tratcd  a  destructive  fire ;  the  carnage  was  awful.  Gen. 
Turner  and  Staff  exerted  themselves  to  the  utmost  to  stop 
the  wild  tide  of  human  fright  and  fury.  Col.  Smith,  among 
others,  did  his  best  to  assist  him  ;  but  all  opposition  was  over 
borne  ;  some  of  the  colored  men  were  impaled  on  bayonets ; 
but  they  swept  away  the  line  in  front  of  them,  rushing  over 
it  to  the  rear.  Our  line  of  intrenchrnents  facing  the  enemy's 
was  broken  a  little  to  the  left  of  the  fort,  by  a  ravine,  crossing 
which  men  were  in  plain  sight  of  the  enemy.  To  the  rear  of 
our  works  was  a  knoll,  through  which  a  deep  trench  had 
been  cut,  to  enable  the  men  to  pass  in  and  out  without  ex 
posure.  When  the  panic  first  commenced,  the  1st  Brigade 
was  in  reserve  in  a  skirt  of  woods  behind  this  knoll.  Gen. 
Curtis  was  ordered  to  move  his  Brigade  forward  into  our  line 
of  intrenchments,  stop  the  fugitives  at  the  point  of  the  bayo 
net,  and  at  all  events,  hold  our  works,  which  were  now  in 
imminent  danger  of  being  wrested  from  us. 

Part  of  the  Brigade  had  moved  in.  Col.  Smitk  with  the 
right  wing  of  the  Regiment  had  crowded  through,  and  was 
in  good  position  on  the  left  of  the  passage.  Capt.  Ludwick, 
at  this  time  acting  Major,  had  command  of  the  left  wing  of 
the  Regiment.  When  ordered  to  advance,  he  found  the  track 
through  the  knoll  jammed  with  the  fugitives,  crowding,  swear 
ing,  yelling,  making  frantic  endeavors  to  get  through  ;  some 
were  down  and  others  treading  over  them ;  and  those  in  front 
were  pushed  on  by  the  dense  mass  behind.  Seeing  that  it 
was  useless  to  attempt  to  push  through,  and  knowing  the 
necessity  of  promptness,  he  leaped  from  the  trench  to  the  top 
of  the  knoll,  and  shouted  to  his  men  to  follow  him,  and  star 
ted  for  the  line  he  was  to  occupy.  This  was  to  the  right  and 
across  the  ravine  spoken  of.  The  men  were  now  in  full  view 


126  HISTORY  OF  THE   117TH  R.    N.    Y.    V. 

of  the  enemy,  who  were  pouring  in  a  storm  of  lead  and  grape 
upon  the  dense  mass  of  men  crowded  here,  and  who  now 
turned  their  attention  to  the  heroes,  who  amid  this  wild 
fright,  were  resolutely  rushing  to  rescue  our  works  from  the 
pursuing  foe." 

The  officers  alluded  to  in  the  last  paragraph,  were  of  the 
112th  R.  The  117th  under  command  of  Major  Bagg,  was 
also  present. 

Thus  terminated  a  well  planned,  but  miserably  conducted 
enterprise,  constituting  a  reverse  which  will  long  be  remem 
bered  as  a  reproach  to  an  indefinite  "  some  one." 

On  its  withdrawal  from  this  position,  the  2nd  Division 
returned  to  the  trenches  it  had  occupied  for  the  past  month. 

Soon  after  midnight,  which  was  the  morning  of  the  31st, 
the  men  were  aroused  by  an  order  to  prepare  to  march. 
They  were  to  move  at  2  A.  M.  Though  any  change  was 
preferable  to  a  longer  stay  in  their  present  place,  the  order 
was  accompanied  by  a  welcome  rumor  that  this  portion  of  the 
10th  Corps,  would  go  direct  to  Washington.  The  troops  al 
ways  moved  northward  very  cheerfully,  particularly  to  a  more 
northerly  base  or  department,  probably  because  northward 
was  equivalent  to  "homeward."  For  some  reason  there  was 
a  great  delay  in  the  receipt  of  the  final  order  to  move.  The 
small  cool  hours  passed,  the  inviting  gray  dawn  came  and 
went.  The  ardent,  dreaded  sun  announced  himself  at  the 
broad  window  of  the'  East,  and  at  length,  his  rays  gilded  the 
lull  tops,  and  then,  we  moved.  Of  course  the  weather  was 
sufficiently  -warm  at  all  hours,  but  at  this  time  of  year,  in  a 
clear  day,  to  begin  a  march  at  6,  A.  M.,  was  not  considered 
an  instance  of  good  fortune.  The  column,  about  6,  began 
the  march  toward  City  Point,  but  before  going  far  on  the 


HISTORY  OF  THE   117TH  R.   N.   Y.   V.  127 

main  road  leading  thither,  the  column  bore  off  abruptly 
toward  the  Appomattox.  By  10  A.  M.,  the  heat  became  op 
pressive,  and  was  still  increasing.  In  the  open  space,  the 
burning  rays  of  the  sun  were  almost  unendurable.  Amid 
the  pine  woods  through  which  we  now  and  then  passed,  there 
was  the  most  distressing  stillness  of  the  air.  Men  fell  out 
of  the  ranks,  on  either  hand.  Some  fainting,  some  sun- 
struck.  On  reaching  the  Appomattox,  and  descending  to  the 
pontoons,  the  sun's  rays  poured  down  most  mercilessly  on  the 
heads  of  the  troops,  while  the  heat  was  increased  by  reflec- 
tion  from  the  water.  Here  too  the  troops  missed  the  breeze  •. 
which  had  been  their  only  comfort  on  the  higher  ground-  - 
This  was  too  much.  The  column  while  crossing  on  the  >. 

pontoons,   was   disturbed  by  men    falling   of    sunstroke. 

On  the  north  bank  of  the  river,  a  spring  bubbled  up,  from.j 
which  the  men  could  not  be  withheld.  They  sought  it  with  : 
an  eagerness,  and  partook  with  the  avidity,  of  men  who  had 
lost  their  reason.  It  was  said  that  two  or  three  of  the/ 
Division  died  there  from  exhaustion,  sunstroke,  or  the  too  • 
free  use  of  cold  water.  Gaining  the  upland,  the  men,  as  with  . 
one  accord,  halted  for  rest.  In  a  few  minutes  nearly  alLi 
were  lying  prostrate.  Dozens  were  taken  thence  to  the  Point  - 
of  Rock's  hospital,  quite  a  large  per  centage  of  whom,  were  • 
permanently  disabled,  and  some  lapsing  into  sickness,  from., 
which  they  died. 

We  tarried  here  till  nearly  4  o'clock,  when  the  march  wass 
renewed,  and  although  the  troops  were  quite  refreshed,  and  , 
the  heat  was  less  severe,  before  reaching  our  destination  on 
the  line,  several  of  the  boys  fell  out  and  had  to  be  sent  back  : 
to  hospital.     It  is  not  flattering  to  recur  to  the  probability, 
that  if  the  troops  had  been  permitted  to  set  out  as  early  as  2  : 


128  HISTORY  OF  THE    117TH   R.   N.    Y.   V. 

o'clock,  A.  M.  this  excessive  personal  suffering  and  military 
loss  might  have  been  avoided.  That  night  the  Brigade  halted 
and  encamped  in  rear  of  the  Bermuda  line,  about  a  mile  from 
the  James  River,  and  very  near  the  spot  on  which  the  regi 
ment  encamped  immediately  after  the  battle  of  Drury's 
Bluff.  It  was  in  a  wood,  which  the  necessities  of  the  army 
had  reduced  to  a  grove.  On  the  following  day,  the  Brigade 
camp  was  formed,  two  regiments  being  ranged  on  either  side 
of  the  road,  and  all  facing  it.  The  tents  were  well  protected 
from  the  sun,  by  artificial  bowers  made  of  boughs  supported 
by  pole  frame  work. 

The  Brigade  and  Regimental  commanders  exerted  them 
selves  to  render  the  camp  conducive  to  both  health  and  com 
fort.     After  the  camp  had  been  well  laid  out,  the  tents  raised 
iUnifo.nnly  a  certain  distance  above  ground,  and  sheltered  with 
iboughs  as  described,  a  thorough  system  of  policeingwas  estab 
lished  and  rigidly  maintained.     A  very  good  quality  of  water 
\was  procured  by  digging.  The  situation  of  the  men,  when  com 
pared  with  that  they  left  at  Peter sburgh,  was  even  pleasant. 
Gen.  Grant,  having  secretly  determined  on  another  attempt  to 
seize  the  Weldon  Railroad,  began  to  move  troops  in  the  oppo 
site  direction,  as  if  about  to  advance  on  Richmond,  from  the 
,north  side  of  the  James.     To  threaten  Richmond  from  that 
point,  two  divisions  of  the  10th  Corps  were  sent  across  the 
river  at  Deep  Bottom.     Simultaneously  a  corps  was  with 
drawn  from  the  line,  marched  to   City  Point,  and,  when  a 
demonstration  was  made  on  the   right,  the  same  corps,  with 
other  troops,  appeared  suddenly  at  the  Weldon  Road.     The 
enemy,  having  reduced  his  force  here,  to  counteract  Gen. 
Grant's  feint  on  the  north  of  the  James,  were  unprepared. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V.  129 

The  line  was  carried  by  a  vigorous  assault,  a  section  of  the 
road  taken,  and  the  position  fortified. 

The  transfer  of  the  1st  Division,  and  the  other  Brigades  of 
the  2d,  to  participate  in  the  demonstration  before  Richmond, 
left  the  temporary  defence  of  the  entire  Bermuda  line  to  Gen. 
Curtis'  Brigade.  Doubtless  there  were  times  when  portions 
of  the  enemy's  line  were  equally  attenuated.  In  this  instance, 
.there  was,  no  doubt,  great  reliance  placed  on  the  preoccupation 
of  the  opposing  army.  The  engagement  which  attended  the 
menace  of  Richmond,  was  a  severe  one;  the  union  troops  be 
ing  the  assailants,  were  badly  cut  up.  All  of  these  blows  dealt 
at  the  confederacy,  however,  contributed  to  the  grand  result, 
the  final  overthrow  of  the  rebel  cause.  Several  days  later, 
Gen.  Birney,  who  had  assumed  command  of  the  10th  Corps, 
through  the  retirement  of  Gen.  Gilmore,  prepared  to  cut  the 
Eailroad  connection  between  Richmond  and  Petersburg!!. 
Gen.  Grant's  well-concealed  disappointment  at  Butler's  failure 
to  do  this,  on  his  advance  to  Drury's  Bluff,  was  shared  by  the 
public  at  large,  and  keenly  felt  by  the  Army  of  the  James. 
The  project  ended  with  a  reconnoisance,  which  revealed  the 
enemy  in  full  force,  and  vigilant,  having  apparently  anticipa 
ted  the  movement. 

Ellis  H.  Roberts  and  Chaplain  Jones  arrived  in  camp  about 
this  time,  the  former  on  a  visit,  the  latter  to  join  the  regiment 
officially.  Mr.  Roberts,  personally  and  editorially  was  known 
to  all  the  regiment,  and  esteemed  as  an  able  co-worker.  About 
this  time,  the  Brigade  made  a  night  march  to  Port  Walthall, 
the  Appomattox  terminus  of  the  Bermuda  line.  Though  the 
boys  deprecated  unavailing  toil,  on  arriving  at  the  designated 
point,  they  proceeded  with  alacrity  to  carry  out  the  order  to 
"counter  march."  Reached  camp  about  sunrise.  Every 


130  HISTORY  OP  THE   117TH   R.   N.    Y.    V. 

means  had  been  taken  to  render  the  camp  salubrious,  but 
still  there  was  considerable  sickness,  much  of  which,  no 
doubt,  might  have  been  traced  to  recent  hardships.  Ague, 
bowel  affections  and  fever,  were  the  most  common  forms  of 
disease.  Toward  the  last  of  the  month,  (August,)  it  was 
rumored  that  the  10th  Army  Corps  would  exchange  places 
witli  the  18th,  which  was  still  in  the  trenches  at  Petersburg!!. 
The  change  was  to  be  made  by  brigades.  While  this  was 
in  progress,  and  before  our  brigade  had  moved,  on  the 
morning  of  the  25th,  the  enemy  having,  no  doubt,  become 
apprised  of  the  unsettled  state  of  the  line,  and  taking  ad 
vantage  of  a  lack  of  circumspection  on  the  part  of  the  union 
troops,  induced  by  a  mutual  suspension  of  hostilities,  which 
had  been  observed  here  with  slight  interruption,  for  a  month 
or  more,  made  a  dash  on  our  line.  By  a  spirited  sally,  they 
gained  possession  of  a  section  of  it,  and  effected  the  capture 
of  about  seventeen  men  of  the  117th  Regiment,  and  fifteen  of 
the  112th.  The  brigade  lost  in  prisoners,  about  forty. 
Subsequently,  twenty-nine  members  of  the  regiment  met 
in  a  rebel  prison ;  only  nine  of  these  unfortunates  sur 
vived  their  captivity.  There  were  also  several  wounded,  and 
three  or  four  killed  during  the  skirmish.  Captain  Irwin,  of 
Co.  E,  who  was  in  command  of  the  brigade  picket  line,  was 
severely  wounded.  We  reached  the  trenches  in  front  of 
Petersburg,  on  the  night  of  August  25th,  scarcely  half  a  mile 
from  the  city,  and  in  full  view  of  it ;  the  right  of  our  line 
resting  upon  the  south  bank  of  the  Appomattox. 

It  was  so  arranged  that  only  half  the  brigade  went  on  duty 
in  the  trenches  at  one  time.  The  relief,  meanwhile,  being  a 
little  distance  in  the  rear,  within  shot  range  of  the  enemy, 
but  resting  on  low  ground,  under  the  protection  afforded 


HISTORY   OF   THE   117TH   B.    N.    Y.    V.  131 

by  the  ridges.  The  bullets  which  were  whizzing  here  and 
there,  at  all  hours,  and  the  shells  which  were  exploding  over 
head,  confined  them  to  that  position.  These  localities 
being  most  unhealthy,  the  men  suffered  very  much  from  sick 
ness.  The  constraint  was  less  here  than  in  the  trenches, 
otherwise  the  advantage  of  a  relief  from  duty  was  not  great. 
The  line  was  too  light  to  render  it  safe  for  the  relieved  troops 
to  go  farther  to  the  rear  on  higher  ground.  Ague  became 
exceedingly  common.  It  appeared  in  every  known  form,  and 
unfitted  a  large  percentage  for  duty. 

A  number  of  casualties,  some  serious,  occurred  while  we 
were  here.  Several  sentinels  were  shot  while  keeping  watch 
at  the  look-out.  One  or  two  were  killed  by  shell.  There 
were  some  narrow  escapes  among  those  who  were  off  duty  in 
camp.  The  recollection  of  some  of  these  occurrences  after 
ward  excited  merriment  among  the  boys.  One  day  a  solid 
shot,  with  unmannerly  rudeness,  came  bounding  into  camp, 
passing  through  a  group  of  soldiers  who  had  just  collected  for 
their  warm  rations.  In  the  same  instant  it  prostrated  the 
cook,  demolished  the  mess  kettle,  and  irreverently  baptized 
our  best  flag  in  an  emollient  douche  of  vile  bean  porridge.  The 
cook  was  only  temporarily  slain,  by  some  gravel  which  the 
shot  had  thrown  against  him.  He  was  soon  able  to  resume 
his  benevolent  functions.  About  the  same  time,  another  por 
tion  of  camp  was  the  scene  of  a  narrow  escape.  A  sick  sol 
dier  of  company  G,  was  lying  in  his  tent,  with  his  knapsack 
for  a  pillow,  and,  as  most  supposed,  quite  out  of  harm's  way, 
when  a  solid  shot,  styled  by  the  boys  a  "pickle,"  from  its  re 
semblance  in  size  and  shape,  to  a  cucumber,  struck  the  knap 
sack,  passed  through,  and  carried  it  away,  destroying,  thus 
unceremoniously,  the  boy's  pillow,  as  well  as  his  provision  for 


132  HISTORY  OF  THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.   V. 

future  physical  purity.  The  only  inconvenience  it  occasioned 
him,  was  from  the  sudden  letting  down  of  his  head.  As  the 
knapsack  was  scarcely  thicker  than  the  missile,  it  is  not  improp 
er  to  speak  of  the  incident  as  a  hair  breadth  escape.  Our  soldiers 
communicated  almost  daily,  with  those  of  the  enemy.  This 
was  only  on  our  right  flank,  where  the  picket  lines  were  sep 
arated  by  the  Apponiattox  river,  which  at  this  point  was 
quite  narrow.  They  exchanged  papers  several  times  a 
week.  One  Lieutenant  who  brought  over  a  Richmond  paper, 
begged  to  be  detained,  remarking  that  he  had  had  enough  of 
a  secession  war,  was  very  desirous  of  getting  out  of  it,  it  be 
ing  a  bad  and  hopeless  cause.  He  did  not  care  to  desert,  but 
entreated  to  be  taken  prisoner.  Our  boys  could  not  make  a 
breach  of  faith  to  please  him,  so  he  was  required  to  return. 
The  heights  and  lesser  eminences  in  the  rear,  were  covered 
with  artillery,  whose  efficiency  was  attested  by  the  breached 
and  crumbling  walls  within  the  besieged  city.  The  occasional 
bombardments  were  fearful  to  witness.  The  reports  of  the 
guns,  the  screeching  of  the  missiles,  as  they  passed  over  us, 
the  sound  of  their  concussion  as  they  plunged  among  the 
brick  structures,  and  then  their  muffled  explosion,  followed 
by  the  sound  of  falling  debris,  was  impressive  even  to  those 
whose  safety  was  not  endangered.  Occurring  in  the  night 
as  they  sometimes  did,  when  the  shells,  or  at  least,  their  burn 
ing  fuses,  were  distinctly  visible,  the  view  was  impressively 
grand.  It  was  at  once  a  terrific  bombardment,  and  a  free 
exhibition  of  military  pyrotechnics.  The  great  gun  on  the 
heights,  within  the  fort,  taken  by  the  brigade  on  the  15th  of 
June,  and  the  15  inch  mortar,  mounted  on  an  immense  truck, 
and  placed  on  the  Railroad  track,  were  distinctly  heard  above 


HISTORY  OP  THE  117TH  R.    N.   Y.   V.  183 

the  rest  of  the  guns ;  one  was  termed  the  "  Petersburg  Ex 
press." 

On  the  evening  of  the  29th  of  August,  there  was  a  general 
bombardment  along  the  entire  line.  The  rebel  batteries  re 
sponding.  It  was  opened  by  our  guns.  It  was  said  to  be  in 
honor  of  the  capture  of  Atlanta,  which  city  had  just  fallen 
into  the  possession  of  Sherman's  Army.  A  political  event 
transpired  almost  simultaneously,  and  while  some  regarded 
the  general  bombardment  as  having  reference  to  the  fall  of 
Atlanta,  others  suggested  it  might  be  Gen.  Grant's  repudiation 
of  the  submission  platform.  After  a  tedious  month,  passed 
by  the  boys  in  the  trendies  and  ravines,  there  arose  indications 
of  another  change. 

Late  in  the  evening  of  the  24th  of  September,  the  brigade, 
and  the  entire  division,  moved  out  and  back  on  the  heights, 
near  the  City  Point  Railroad,  which  had  been  extended  to  the 
vicinity  of  the  "VVeldon  Road. 

It  was  refreshing  to  breathe  again  the  pure  air  of  the  hill 
country,  and  very  agreeable  to  be  once  more  without  the 
range  of  rebel  bullets  and  shells,  and  where  one  could  resume 
an  upright  position  without  provoking  the  particular  attention 
of  a  rebel  sharp-shooter. 

Feeling  that  our  stay  here  would  be  short,  there  was  but 
little  done  in  the  way  of  providing  domestic  comforts.  After 
a  sojourn  of  about  two  days,  orders  were  received  to  re 
duce  baggage  to  the  minimum  standard.  This  was  a  clear 
indication  of  work ;  work  ahead.  There  was  at  least  a  march 
in  reserve.  Some  how,  an  impression  went  about,  that  our 
immediate  destination  would  be  transports,  beyond  which  no 
one  ventured  to  predict. 


134  HISTORY  OF  THE   117lH  R.   N.   Y.   V. 


CHAPTER   XII. 
CHAPIN'S  FARM. 

The  10th  and  18th  Corps,  cross  the  James.— Battle  of  Chapin's  Farm.— Intrench. 
—A  flank  attack,  on  the  7th  of  Oct.— Assault  on  the  Rebel  works,  and  the  en 
gagement,  (Oct.  27th.)— Incidents.— Election.— Military  events. 

THE  10th  Corps  was  soon  moving — the  1st  Brigade  under 
command  of  Col.  Daggett— this  was  on  the  28th  September. 
As  we  did  not  move  in  the  direction  of  City  Point,  it  was 
concluded  that  we  were  going  to  Bermuda  landing,  there  to 
embark.  By  evening  we  discovered  ourselves  tending  to  the 
left  of  that  point ;  then  we  were  to  take  transports  at  Deep 
Bottom.  As  night  set  in,  it  became  clear  that  Deep  Bottom 
was  our  destination,  or  that  we  were  executing  one  of  Gen. 
Butler's  grand  feints.  The  troops  became  foot  sore  and 
weary,  and  not  a  few  fell  out.  It  was  a  forced  inarch.  It 
appeared  as  though  the  extremity  of  the  Peninsula  called 
Jone's  Neck  would  never  be  reached.  There,  many  fancied 
we  would  find  the  staunch  old  transports  on  whose  decks  we 
might  rest  for  a  day  or  two.  On  reaching  the  point  which 
was  also  Deep  Bottom  Landing,  there  were  indeed  several 
vessels,  but  not  for  us,  instead  of  these  the  pontooniers  had 
extended  our  road  to  the  opposite  bank,  which  we  gained 
about  2  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  29th.  The  nature  of 
the  expedition  it  was  not  easy  at  this  stage  to  misapprehend. 


HISTORY  OP  THE    117TH  R.   N.    Y.   V.  135 

All  realized  as  we  hastily  made  our  blanket  beds  and  dropped 
on  them  to  catch  a  little  sleep,  that  we  had  crossed  upon 
what  was  or  might  soon  be  contested  territory.  All  too  had 
become  aware  that  the  moving  column  comprised  a  heavy 
force,  and  that  a  further  advance  would  soon  elicit  a  lively 
opposition. 

It  is  no  wonder  that  under  these  circumstances,  as  the  boys 
composed  themselves  for  a  little  needed  rest, 

"  They  bitterly  thought  of  the  Morrow." 

"  Why !  I  did  not  know  it  was  so  near  morning  when  we  lay 
down  here,"  was  the  first  remark  made  by  many  a  half  rested 
soldier  as  the  order  'to  prepare  to  move  passed  round  just  as 
daylight  began  to  make  the  eastern  horizon  visible. 

The  morning  meal  was  hastily  eaten,  when  preparations  were 
made  for  the  formation  of  the'  line.  The  advance  skirmish 
line,  consisting  of  a  Regiment  (the  3rd  U..S.  Colored  troops,) 
had  not  advanced  a  mile  before  their  progress  was  disputed. 
A  lively  musketry  fire  followed ;  the  2nd  Division,  commanded 
by  Brig.  Gen.  Foster,  who  was  Brig.  Commander  on  the  Ber 
muda  line,  moved  up  within  convenient  distance  as  a  reserve. 
A  rebel  battery  which  had  fired  only  occasionally,  now  fired 
more  rapidly,  as  it  got  a  lateral  or  flanking  fire  on  the  re 
serve.  The  battery  was  soon  compelled  to  withdraw,  its 
position  being  rendered  unsafe  by  the  advance  of  the  colored 
troops.  The  progress  of  the  latter  was  checked  and  stayed 
for  some  little  time  at  an  intrenched  line  of  the  enemy. 
The  contest  there  was  sharp,  but  a  charge  rendered  it  short. 
The  negro  soldiers  carried  it  on  the  first  attempt,  but  they 
paid  for  it,  or  rather  for  the  delay  in  making  the  charge,  the 
slope  in  front  of  the  rebel  line  soon  became  thickly  strewn 


136  HISTORY  OF   THE   117TH  R.    N.    Y.    V. 

with  dead  and  wounded.  Owing  to  the  confusion  which  fol 
lowed  this  memorable  battle  of  the  29th  September,  a  number 
of  these  bodies  lay  unburied  for  several  days.  Another  line 
was  soon  carried  by  these  troops  when  they  were  withdrawn. 
A  skirmish  line  was  then  formed  from  the  2nd  Division,  and 
the  entire  force  marched  briskly  forward.  The  next  line  was 
about  four  miles  distant.  On  approaching  it,  the  troops  were 
disposed  in  three  successive  lines  and  advanced  through  a  thick 
woodland,  when  they  were  met  by  a  galling  artillery  fire  from 
a  battery  which  was  posted  on  an  intervening  eminence.  The 
removal  of  this  battery  was  a  clear  and  urgent  indication. 
A  line  under  command  of  Major  Ludwick  of  the  112th,  ad 
vanced  with  this  object,  when  the  battery  was  prudently  with 
drawn.  The  Major  and  a  number  of  his  command  were 
wounded  in  this  charge. 

About  two  hours  later,  an  order  was  received  by  Gen.  Foster 
from  Gen.  Birney,  Corps  commander,  to  "  assault  Fort  Gil- 
more  within  10  minutes  after  the  receipt  of  this  order."  This 
Fort  was  a  very  formidable  earth-work,  nearly  in  front  of 
the  1st  Brigade.  The  disadvantages  imposed  on  the  attack 
ing  party  were  clearly  obvious  to  every  person  who  had  ob 
served  the  situation.  The  fort  was  a  good  distance  off,  more 
than  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  the  greater  part  of  the  intervening 
space,  was  uneven,  an*d  covered  with  fallen  trees,  whose  tops 
were  uniformly  toward  us,  and  had  been  cut  so  that  those 
approaching  the  Fort  would  encounter  in  each  tree-top  a 
tliousand  sharp  points.  These  "  slashings  "  used  by  both 
armies  were  a  cheap,  effectual  and  extended  abattis,  serving 
generally  to  retard  the  progress  of  a  besieging  force  till  it 
could  be  consumed  as  it  were  by  the  operation  of  pre-ar 
ranged  artillery  and  musketry. 


HISTORY  OP  THE    117TH  R.   N.   T.   V.  137 

These  adverse  points  are  just  the  right  height  to  embarrass 
a  person,  being  too  high  to  step  over  and  too  low  to  pass 
under.  The  fort-ward  third  of  the  distance  was  nearly  level. 
The  charge  was  by  the  entire  Division.  Col.  Daggett  led  the 
Brigade.  The  line  had  scarcely  emerged  from  the  wood 
into  the  "  slashing  "  before  it  met  the  rebel  fire.  As  the  lines 
went  forward,  the  severity  of  the  fire  increased.  The  rebel 
batteries  were  evidently  in  competent  hands.  Seldom  during 
the  war  was  artillery  more  skillfully  handled.  Shell  were 
made  to  explode  just  above  and  in  advance  of  the  first  line, 
while  grape  and  canister  were  used  with  frightful  effect. 
Soon  a  withering  musketry  was  superadded.  The  volume  of 
this  fire  suggested  how  the  intrenchments  swarmed  with 
gray-backs.  The  enemy  had  concentrated  on  this  line  both 
from  the  evacuated  outer  lines,  and  also  from  every  interior 
position.  The  storm  of  every  known  missile  of  warfare  was 
most  effective.  Men  fell  on  every  hand.  The  bodies  of  some 
were  completely  severed  at  the  waist.  A  piece  of  shell  struck 
the  musket  of  a  soldier  of  the  117th,  with  such  force  as  to 
nearly  double  it,  and,  in  the  same  instant  drive  it  through 
his  body.  Still  they  moved  on.  The  carnage  was  awful. 
Before  reaching  the  fort  the  line  became  so  extremely  reduced 
as  to  show  how  unwarrantable  was  the  attack.  The  cornfield 
space  was  swept  by  an  enfilading  fire,  so  that  the  few  who  reached 
that  point  had  scarcely  a  chance  of  surviving  the  engagement, 
and  if  they  did,  not  much  prospect  of  returning  to  our  lines 
except  by  way  of  Libby  prison. 

The  wounded  were  taken  to  a  dwelling  about  half  a  mile 
to  the  rear,  which,  with  the  yard  and  out  buildings  was  used 
as  a  hospital.  Soon  almost  every  foot  of  available  space 
about  the  premises  was  occupied.  Men  were  borne  in  with 


138  HISTORY   OF  THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.   V. 

every  conceivable  form  of  wound.  A  number  were  wounded 
in  two  or  more  places.  Some  had  been  wounded  while  ad 
vancing  and  again  when  marching  back,  or  while  being  carried 
off.  Lt.  Knox  Williams  was  among  the  latter.  His  injuries 
were  of  a  fatal  character.  He  died  a  few  hours  after.  He 
led  his  company  gallantly.  The  loss  in  the  llTth,  was  heavy. 
The  casualties  amounting  to  more  than  one  hundred.  The 
enemy  being  unwilling  to  recognize  a  flag  of  truce,  many 
who  were  disabled  were  left  on  the  field,  to  the  tender  mer 
cies  of  the  foe.  Few  of  that  number  returned.  Col.  Daggett's 
bravery  on  this  occasion  was  conspicuous.  He  led  the  brig 
ade  resolutely,  and  gallantly.  He  was  highly  complimented 
by  his  superiors. 

Just  at  evening  the  treatment  of  the  wounded  was  sud 
denly  interrupted  by  an  order  to  remove  them  immediately 
to  the  river  for  transportation.  An  attack  by  the  enemy  was 
apprehended,  in  which  case  the  vicinity  of  the  hospital  would 
be  the  scene  of  the  engagement.  A  train  of  ambulances 
came  up  directly,  the  wounded  and  dying  were  put  on  board 
and  carefully  carried  to  the  landing.  A  few  died  on  the 
way.  The  bodies  of  several  who  had  expired  at  the  hospital 
during  the  afternoon,  were  buried  near  the  house.  The 
enemy  it  seems  re-considered  the  subject  of  attack  on  that 
part  of  the  line  ;  but,  not  many  hours  after  concentrated  and 
charged  Fort  Anderson,  which  had  been  taken  by  the  18th 
Corps.  This  work  was  a  little  more  than  a  mile  to  the  left. 
It  was  advantageously  situated,  commanding  the  James  river. 
The  attempt  of  the  enemy  to  recapture  it  was  a  disastrous 
failure.  Their  loss  in  the  charge  being  very  heavy. 

The  woods  spoken  of  and  the  "  slashing  "  comprised  the  space 
between  the  line  of  the  10th  Corps,  and  the  enemy.  The 


HISTORY   OF   THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V.  139 

18th  Corps,  having  advanced  at  Fort  Harrison  and  taken  a 
section  of  the  rebel  intrenehment,  its  line  for  a  distance  was 
thus  reversed. 

The  first  work  after  our  withdrawal  from  Fort  Gilmore,  was 
to  fortify  the  position.  A  strong  embankment  well  enforced 
with  batteries  soon  afforded  a  good  sense  of  security.  Only 
a  few  hours  after  the  removal  of  the  wounded,  the  hospital 
and  all  the  surrounding  tenements  had  been  taken  down  and 
transferred  piece  meal  to  the  fortification. 

It  was  well  known  that  the  rebels  would  be  jealous  of  our 
sojourn  so  near  their  Capital  and  that  they  would  attempt  to 
dislodge  us.  On  the  7th  of  October,  while  we  were  expecting 
an  attack  in  front,  they  made  a  rapid  movement  against  the 
right  flank  of  the  10th  Corps,  which  was  also  the  right  of  the 
line.  The  defense  or  at  least  the  guarding  of  this  exposed 
side  had  been  assigned  to  several  companies  of  cavalry,  who 
failed  to  make  an  early  discovery  of  the  enemy's  advance,  or 
otherwise  were  culpably  tardy  in  reporting  the  fact. 

Besides  many  of  them  were  undisciplined  troops,  who  fled 
before  the  enemy  like  leaves  before  the  wind.  A  few  of  them 
had  chosen  this  arm  of  the  service  on  account  of  its  mobility, 
and  now,  when  danger  threatened,  they  seemed  to  think  no 
one  was  more  entitled  to  its  advantages  than  themselves. 
One  of  the  mounted  soldiers,  while  riding  precipitately 
to  the  rear,  bare  headed,  and  "  dreadfully  demoralized," 
was  hailed  by  an  officer  with  "where  are  you  going?"  "  0!  " 
said  he,  "the  Rebs  are  coming,  I  seen  a  lot  of  them  and  one 
of  the  bloody  cusses  shot  right  at  me  !  " 

The  attack  was  made  at  an  early  hour.  The  gray  lines  ad 
vanced  under  cover  of  a  good  battery,  favorably  posted,  but 
on  coming  within  a  few  rods,  and  some  even  within  a  few 


140  HISTORY  OF  THE  117TH  R.   N.    Y.   Y. 

yards  of  the  temporary  breastwork  along  which  the  union  in 
fantry  had  formed,  they  met  an  irresistible  and  overwhelm 
ing  musketry  fire.  They  halted,  and  reluctantly  retired. 
Our  artillerists  who  had  maintained  a  lively  engagement  with 
the  enemy's  batteries,  suffered  severely.  Quite  a  number 
were  killed  at  their  guns.  About  twenty-five  artillery  horses 
were  lost  in  a  few  minutes.  The  space  over  which  the 
charge  was  made  was  liberally  sprinkled  with  rebel  dead. 

Scarcely  an  hour  later,  the  attack  was  repeated,  but  failed 
as  before.  A  couple  of  hours  after  the  retreating  foe 
had  dissolved  in  the  distance,  the  brigade,  which  was  a 
part  of  the  reserve  force,  fell  back  to  a  grove  about  a  half 
mile  in  rear  of  the  breastworks,  where  it  established  a  camp 
which  it  occupied  till  December  7th,  just  two  months,  when 
the  corps  left  to  take  part  in  the  Butler  expedition  against 
Fort  Fisher. 

The  two  following  months  were  employed  in  repelling  as 
saults,  and  seeking  a  weak  place  in  the  enemy's  line,  or  in 
assailing  strong  points  to  divert  him  from  the  Weldon  Road. 
This  arduous  duty  was  varied  with  a  participation  in  the  fall 
election,  and, in  firing  shotted  salutes  in  honor  of  Sheridan's 
and  other  victories. 

The  regiment  was  visited  by  the  Paymaster  during  the 
month.  About  the  middle  of  October,  persons  from  Oneida 
County,  appointed  for  that  purpose,  arrived  to  receive  the 
ballots  of  the  soldiers.  Representatives  from  either  party 
came  on  that  mission  to  the  117th,  which  furnished  a  hand 
some  Republican  majority. 

The  phrase  stereotyped  in  '62,  "All  quiet  along  the  lines," 
was  now  entirely  obsolete.  It  was  not  applicable  to  Grant's 
front,  scarcely  for  a  single  day;  therefore  an  order  received  on 


HISTORY  OF   THE  117TH  B.   N.    Y.    V.  141 

the  26th,  to  be  ready  to  march  on  short  notice,  was  not  very 
unexpected.  All  baggage,  wagons,  <fcc.,  were  immediately 
transferred  to  the  south  side  of  the  James,  where  the  brigade 
Commissary  depot  had  remained.  Some  supposed  we  were 
about  to  evacuate  this  part  of  the  line — expectation  was  again 
on  tiptoe.  The  troops  were  to  be  in  light  marching  order. 
The  uncertainty,  with  reference  to  our  point  of  destination  on 
the  line,  was,  however,  soon  removed.  Soon  after  midnight, 
the  morning  of  the  27th,  the  troops  "fell  in,"  and  were  soon 
moving  to  the  right.  The  greater  portion  of  the  Army  of  the 
James  appeared  to  be  in  motion.  The  2d  division  crossed 
the  New  Market  road,  advanced  some  two  miles  beyond  the 
union  intrenchments,  to  the  Darbeytown  road,  across  which 
it  formed.  The  first  line  was  taken  with  slight  loss  and  but 
little  delay. 

The  18th  Corps  proceeded  still  farther  to  the  right, 
taking  position  near  the  Charles  City  Road.  The  2d  division 
now  lay  nearly  passive  for  a  couple  of  hours,  thus  affording 
time  for  a  report  of  progress,  from  the  extreme  right.  In 
rear  of  Gen.  Curtis'  brigade,  along  the  Darbytown  road,  was 
a  large  white  house,  occupied  a  part  of  the  day,  as  Gen.  But 
ler's  Head-quarters,  and  also  during  the  night,  as  a  hospital 
for  such  officers  and  privates  as  could  not  endure  immediate 
transportation.  On  the  intrenched  line  in  front  of  the  house, 
was  a  small  redoubt,  then  a  cornfield,  bounded  on  the  left  and 
also  on  the  distal  side,  by  a  belt  of  woods,  then  the  usual 
almost  impassable  "slashing,"  beyond  which  rose  the  yellow  zig 
zag  embankment,  recognized  as  the  unavoidable  impediment 
in  the  way  to  Richmond.  A  little  to  the  right  of  this  point, 
near  the  woods,  was  a  medium  sized  dwelling,  behind  which 

10 


142  HISTORY   OF  THE   117TH  R.   N.    Y.   V. 

the  enemy's  skirmishers  took  shelter,  thereby  making  the 
building  a  target  for  both  musketry  and  artillery.  About 
7  o'clock,  A.  M.,  the  skirmish  line  having  been  formed,  it  ad 
vanced,  and  soon  brought  on  a  lively  skirmish  fire. 

The  brigade  skirmish  line  was  commanded  by  Captain  Jay 
Wicks,  of  the  3d  N.  Y.  Infantry.*  He  was  mortally  wounded 
while  urging  his  command  forward.  The  section  of  the 
skirmish  line  made  up  from  the  117th,  was  led  by  Captain  L. 
R.  Clark,  who  was  seriously  wounded  in  the  leg.  This  wound 
necessitated  amputation  of  the  limb,  and  the  mutilation  of  a 
remarkably  fine  physique,  involving  the  loss  of  as  gallant  a 
soldier  as  ever  went  to  battle. 

The  sky  was  now  heavily  overcast,  rain  was  falling,  and 
continued  through  the  day,  varying  from  the  gentle  drizzle  to 
the  drenching  shower.  A  more  cheerless,  comfortless  day  is 
rarely  seen  even  in  October.  Captain  Thomas  of  Co.  F,  went 
out  to  take  the  place  of  Captain  Clark,  who  had  fallen  ;  the 
undergrowth  being  so  close  that  a  person  could  scarcely  see  a 

*  Jay  Wicks  was  born  in  the  town  of  Paris,  1837.  Was  engaged  as  clerk  by 
the  well  known  firm  of  Potter  &  Kenyon,  Syracuse  N.  Y.,  and  enjoying  the  con 
fidence  of  his  employers,  at  the  time  of  the  bombardment  of  Fort  Sumter.  On 
the  receipt  of  this  startling  news,  his  native  patriotism  was  aroused.  He  enlisted 
in  the  3d  Eegt.  N.  Y.  V  Inf't,  on  the  16th  of  the  memorable  April,  1861  ;  he 
was  commissioned  2d  Lieutenant  on  the  21st  of  the  same  month  ;  was  promoted 
to  1st  Lieutenant  Feb.  14th,  1862.  Re-enlisted  for  three  years  in  October  1862,  was 
promoted  to  Captain  the  4th  of  the  same  month,  which  position  he  held  at  the 
time  of  his  death. 

He  was  in  the  battle  of  Great  Bethel — Siege  of  Charleston — Battle  of  Drury's 
Bluff — Cold  Harbor — Chapin's  Farm,  and  in  many  minor  engagements.  An  in 
telligent,  prompt  and  efficient  officer,  very  popular  as  a  company  commander,  and 
no  less  so  in  his  regiment.  The  command  of  the  regiment  devolved  upon  him  on 
several  occasions.  He  was  an  excellent  young  man ;  enjoying  a  flattering  pros 
pect  for  a  life  of  usefulness  and  honor.  He  received  his  fatal  wound  while 
advancing  the  Brigade  skirmish  line,  at  the  Darbytown  Road,  Oct.  27th,  1 864 ; 
was  immediately  taken  to  Chesapeake  Hospital,  Fortress  Monroe,  where  he  died 
on  the  30th,  aged  27  years.  Chaplain  Marshal,  who  attended  him  during  his  last 
hours,  gave  a  hopeful  account  of  his  spiritual  condition. 


HISTORY  OP  THE   117TH  E.   N.   Y.    V.  143 

rod  in  advance,  and  being  entirely  unacquainted  with  the  lay 
of  the  ground,  Captain  Thomas  failed  to  find,  immediately, 
the  desired  point  of  the  line.  Lieutenant  Adams  of  Co.  H, 
was  then  sent  out  with  directions  to  find  the  point,  and  to 
connect  the  line  with  a  corresponding  portion  of  the  brigade 
line.  The  Lieutenant,  encountering  the  same  difficulties,  in 
advertently  passed  beyond  the  line  and  was  taken  prisoner, 
and  carried  to  Libby  Prison,  where  the  usual  starving  pro 
cess  awaited  him.  Several  members  of  the  regiment  were 
wounded  before  the  charge. 

The  regiment,  in  this  assault,  was  commanded  by  Major* 
Bagg. 

It  was  about  five  o'clock  P.  M.,  when  the  order  for  a  general 
advance  and  charge,  was  received,   when  the  brigade,   led 
by  Col.  Curtis,  moved  forward  through  the  wood,  and  when- 
it   emerged,  went  on  clambering  and    toiling  through  the 
opposing  tree  tops,  in  the  face  of  a  tremendous  musketry  and > 
artillery  fire.     It  was  the  story  of  the  29th  of  Sept.  repeated : 
a  desperate  charge  against  superior  numbers  intrenched,  great: 
suffering,  heavy  losses,  the  expected  fruits  of  the  conflict  to  be  • 
gathered  at  the  extreme  left  of  the  line. 

The  force  continued  to  threaten  the  rebel  works  till  near 
dark.     Great  numbers  of  the  wounded  had  been  borne  off ' 
and  placed  on  board  of  ambulances,  which  were  constantly 
going  to  and  from  the  field  hospital.     The  approach  of  night r 
did'not  diminish  the  arrivals  of  these  victims.     Several  who  - 
went  out  in  the  morning  returned  no  more.     Their  bodies  .. 
only  were  brought  in  and  on  the  following  morning  consigned , 
to  a  hastily  made  grave. 

The  brigade  loss  was  about  three  hundred.     That  gloomy 
night  will  be  long  remembered.     It  was  pitchy  dark,  cold  and , 


144  HISTORY   OF  THE  117TH  R.   N.   Y.    V. 

rainy.  Beside  the  redoubt  a  fire  was  kindled  and  kept  up, 
though  more  as  a  guide  than  a  source  of  comfort.  Here,  all 
night  long,  the  wounds  were  temporarily  dressed  and  the  suf 
ferers  placed  on  board  of  ambulances.  Near  midnight  a 
stretcher  was  carried  in  from  the  surrounding  darkness,  bear 
ing  a  wounded  woman  and  a  small  child  ;  walking  at  her  side 
w.ere  three  half-naked,  half-starved  children.  The  woman 
groaned  of  pain,  the  children  cried  of  hunger,  and  entreated 
.the  soldiers  for  a  morsel  of  hard  tack.  The  family  had  occu 
pied  the  house  between  the  skirmish  lines,  which  had  been  the 
.artillery  target  for  the  batteries  on  either  side.  Shells  had 
•exploded  in  and  about  the  house  at  various  hours  of  the  day. 
Jn  the  morning,  finding  their  lives  endangered,  they  took 
refuge  in  the  cellar,  but  even  there  the  crashing  missiles  found 
them,  and  while  there,  the  mother  was  severely  wounded.  It 
was  touching  to  see  these  wet  and  shivering  little  ones  hover 
ing  over  the  fading  embers,  and  to  see  their  tearful,  care-worn 
faces,  as  they  begged  for  the  meanest  crumbs  in  a  soldier's 
haversack.  The  men  soon  procured  for  them  a  substantial 
supper  of  bread  and  meat,  when  the  unhappy,  misplaced  group 
was  put  on  board  an  ambulance  and  sent  to  the  hospital. 
The  loss  from  the  regiment  was  fifty-two.  Capt.  Warr,  of 
ihe  117th,  was  seriously  wounded  in  this  engagement. 

On  the  28th,  soon  after  noon,  the  forces  all  withdrew,  the 
3d  Division  being  a  part  of  the  reserve,  resumed  its  former 
place  about  half  a  mile  to  the  rear  of  the  fortifications.  The 
.attempt  to  extend  our  line  from  the  left,  in  the  vicinity  of 
Hatcher's  Bun,  which  movement  we  were  expected  to  facili 
tate  by  an  attack  on  the  right,  was  a  signal  failure. 

On  the  3d  of  November,  one  regiment  of  the  brigade,  (112th,) 


HISTORY  OF  THE   117TH  R.   N.    Y.    V.  145 

received  an  order  to  be  ready  to  march  at  short  notice.  Though 
surmised,  few  were  certain  as  to  the  nature  of  this  proposed 
expedition.  A  little  time  served  to  reveal  it.  The  regiment 
was  a  part  of  Gen.  Butler's  reliable  force,  which  lay  in  N.  Y. 
harbor,  or  contiguous,  on  election  day,  for  the  purpose  of  re 
pressing  a  disloyal  irruption  similar  to  that  indulged  in  by  a 
certain  element,  on  the  occasion  of  the  draft.  The  election 
passed  off  quietly,  from  which  fact  some  inferred  that  the 
presence  of  the  troops  was  altogether  unnecessary.  While 
others  argued  that  the  transferring  of  -the  troops  thither,  was 
like  the  erection  of  a  fort,  whose  availability  often  removes 
all  occasion  for  its  use.  The  personal  comfort  enjoyed  by  the 
troops  on  the  expedition,  was  pretty  much  limited  on  the  part 
of  some,  to  that  of  a  brief  interview  with  friends  and  on  the 
part  of  others,  to  the  tantalizingi  consciousness  of  being  tem 
porally  so  near  home. 

On  account  of  a  re-formation  of  all  the  colored  troops,  into 
one  corps  called  the  25th,  the  10th  was  known  for  a  time  as 
the  24th. 

The  decease  of  Maj.  Gen.  Birney  took  place  during  the 
latter  part  of  our  stay  on  this  portion  of  the  line.  He 
was  generally  much  esteemed  as  a  man  and  as  an  officer ;  by 
the  colored  troops,  he  was  almost  revered.  The  family  name 
had  been  endeared  to  them  by  its  long  association  with  aboli 
tionism. 

November  passed — though  the  local  successes  had  not  been 
all  that  might  be  wished — the  autumn  returns  from  all  the 
departments,  were  satisfactory.  Petersburg  and  Richmond 
were  closely  invested,  to  the  evident  discomfort  of  the  con 
federate  cabinet.  Atlanta  had  been  captured  and  nearly 


146  HISTORY  OP   THE   117TH  R.   N.    Y.   V. 

destroyed,  and  the  victorious  army  was  marching  seaward, 
while  the  only  adverse  report  from  it,  were  the  predictions  of 
its  exasperated  foe.  Thomas  had  checked  the  invasion  of 
Tennessee  and  had  scattered  the  invaders.  Sheridan  had 
just  sent  Early  "whirling"  southward  for  the  third  time,  and 
by  devastating  "the  valley,"  had  deprived  the  confederacy  of 
one  of  its  chief  granaries.  There  being  no  expectation  of 
immediately  reaching  Richmond  by  this  way,  and  as  there 
were  more  troops  on  the  line  than  would  suffice  to  hold  it, 
enough  even  to  maintain  an  active  menace,  the  surplus  force 
from  the  upper,  was  transferred  to  impart  greater  firmness  to 
the  "nether  millstone." 


HISTORY  OF  THE   117TH   B.   N.    Y.   V.  147 


CHAPTER    XIII. 
THE  BUTLER  EXPEDITION  TO  FORT  FISHER. 

March  to  Bermuda  Hundred  Landing,  by  a  circuitous  route. — Embark. — A  deten 
tion  at  Fort  Monroe. — A  big  Feint,  Voyage  to  Federal  Point. — Another  delay. 
— Return  Northward  to  Morehead  city. — Flag-ship  absent,  Fleet  remains  outside 
of  the  Harbor. — Encounters  a  severe  gale. — Cabin  scene  during  the  gale. — 
Weybossett  nobly  outrides  the  storm,  and  makes  the  Harbor  next  day. — A  four 
days'  detention. — Start  again  for  Federal  Point  — Pleasant  Voyage  and  "  a 
Merry  Christmas  Eve." — Debark. — Advance  of  Gen.  Curtis'  Brigade.— 142nd 
R.  and  112th,  and  3rd  R.  N.  Y.  V.,  reconnoitre  about  the  Fort. — 117th  Regi 
ment  faces  Wilmington,  and  brings  in  som9  130  prisoners. — How  the  prisoners 
were  taken. — Gen.  Curtis  reluctantly  complies  with  the  fourth  order  to  retire, 
when  1st  Brigade  returns  to  the  place  of  Debarkation. — A  gloomy  night  for 
the  command. — Expedition  Returns. — Gen.  Curtis'  Report.  A  new  Expedition 
determined  on. 

THE  support  received  by  the  Confederacy  at  Wilmington, 
by  blockade  running,  despite  the  vigilance  and  exertions  of 
our  fleet,  had  long  been  a  cause  of  defiant  exultation  on  the 
part  of  the  enemy,  and  a  source  of  shame  and  mortification 
to  the  Government  and  its  friends.  The  material  aid  accru 
ing  to  the  enemy  through  this  avenue  was  quite  considerable, 
while  the  moral  effect  of  his  ability  to  maintain  such  frequent 
intercourse  with  the  outer  world,  he  found  exceedingly  brac 
ing  and  conservative. 

The  formidable  character  of  the  Wilmington  defenses  was 
so  well  known  and  appreciated  that  no  organized  assault  had 
yet  been  made  against  them.  Fort  Fisher's  immense  value 


. 

148  HISTORY  OF  THE  117TH   R.   N.    Y.    V. 

to  the  enemy  suggested  to  Gen.  Grant  its  great  importance 
to  us,  and  the  adverse  moral  effect  its  reduction  would  exert 
on  the  waning  confederacy. 

Towards  evening  of  the  7th  of  December,  the  2nd  Brigade 
under  Gen.  Curtis  moved  out  of  camp.  In  a  few  minutes 
the  column  was  moving  towards  Deep  Bottom.  Every  body, 
again  predicted  a  voyage,  till  the  James  was  crossed.  The 
direction  then  was  toward  Petersburg.  After  marching  till 
aboiit  midnight,  the  entire  division  halted,  and  biviouaced  on 
an  eminence  on  the  extreme  left  of  the  Bermuda  line,  near 
the  Appomattox,  and  within  a  few  rods  of  Gen.  Butler's  cel 
ebrated  lookout.  On  this  conspicuous  ground,  which  was 
visible  from  the  enemy's  lines,  after  some  four  hours  rest, 
the  troops  were  directed  to  make  their  coffee  and  take  their 
morning  meal.  Hundreds  of  fires  flashed  and  flickered  in 
the  dawn,  and  faded  in  the  morning  light.  Just  before  sun 
rise  the  column  was  again  put  in  motion  moving  toward 
Bermuda  Landing,  which  we  had  passed  in  the  night.  This 
then  was  Butler  strategy. 

On  arriving  at  the  landing,  the  117th  Regiment  took  pas 
sage  on  the  Transport  Weybossett,  and  on  the  morning  of  the 
8th,  was  lying  off  Fort  Monroe,  comprising  a  part  of  the  great 
fleet  then  about  to  sail.  Perhaps  expecting  to  sail  would  be 
a  better  expression,  for  the  fleet  did  not  set  out  from  Hamp 
ton  Roads  till  the  13th,  and  did  not  get  to  sea  till  the  14th. 
This  delay  of  five  or  six  days,  was  generally  regretted  then, 
but  the  cause  was  not  known  positively  till  the  appearance  of 
the  official  correspondence  between  Gens.  Grant  and  Butler  ? 
on  the  subject  of  the  expedition.  The  former  ascribes  the 
delay  to  Gen.  Butlers'  determination  to  carry  out  his  pet  pro 
ject  with  the  powder  boat;  nearly  a  week  being  lost  in  the 


HISTORY   OF  THE   117TH   E.   N.   Y.   V.  149 

preparation  of  the  boat,  after  the  fleet  was  in  readiness.  On 
the  morning  of  the  13th,  about  twenty  transports,  loaded 
with  troops,  steamed  up  the  Potomac,  going  as  far  as  Matthias 
Point,  where  they  wheeled  in  broad  day  light  and  by  morning 
reached  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Monroe;  having  in  the  last 
twenty  hours  made  a  number  of  miles,  consumed  many  tons 
of  coal,  and  exhibited  one  of  Butler's  finest  stratagetic  evolu 
tions.  There  was  not  a  private  soldier  but  fully  comprehended 
this  movement  from  the  first,  and  if  at  any  point  on  the  pas 
sage  it  was  witnessed  by  the  rebels,  it  must  have  been  quite 
as  plain  to  them.  Much  has  been  said  against  the  General's 
conduct  of  an  engagement;  however  that  may  be,  it  must  be 
conceded  that  his  feints  were  well-conceived,  vigorous,  con 
spicuous  and  lucid. 

Early  in  the  morning  as  the  transports  neared  Hampton 
Roads  they  were  joined  by  the  armed  vessels,  when  the  entire 
fleet  steamed  out  to  sea.  This  fleet,  "  the  most  formidable 
armada  ever  collected  for  concentration  upon  one  given 
point,"  at  sea,  and  under  way,  presented  a  most  magnificent 
sight. 

The  weather  was  favorable,  the  sea  unusually  tranquil,  and 
by  3  o'clock,  P.  M.,  the  fleet  lay  off  the  Wilmington  defenses. 
The  gray  sand  banks  of  Federal  Point,  stretched  off  south 
ward  in  the  distance,  where  it  seemed  to  terminate  in  the  bold 
relief  of  Fort  Fisher.  The  troops  were  now  all  eager  to  land, 
to  make  the  most  of  what  remained  of  the  chance  of  a  sur 
prise.  Besides  being  anxious  to  prosecute  the  work  for  which 
they  had  embarked,  they  were  impatient  to  escape  from  the 
unavoidable  discomforts  of  a  crowded  vessel.  But,  alas !  here 
another  tedious  and  damaging  delay  occurred.  Some  four 
or  five  precious  days,  were  again  wasted  to  the  government, 


150  HISTORY  OF  THE   117TH   R.   N.    Y.    V. 

and  the  same  period  of  burdensome  confinement  endured  by 
the  men.  At  this  stage  coal  and  water  having  become  scarce 
and  signs  of  a  storm  having  arisen,  the  fleet  was  ordered  to 
Morehead  City,  N.  C.  to  replenish.  Commanders  of  vessels 
were  directed  to  keep  near  the  flag-ship. 

The  fleet  set  out  for  Morehead  City  on  the  20th ;  arrived 
there  the  same  day,  many  of  the  vessels  in  time  to  gain  the 
harbor  on  that  tide,  but  the  flag-ship  not  being  up  to  lead  or 
permit  the  rest  to  enter,  all  were  compelled  to  tarry  without 
the  harbor ;  while  waiting  thus,  the  expected  storm  announced 
itself.  As  the  wind  was  strongly  coast-ward,  prompt  meas 
ures  had  to  be  employed  by  every  crew,  to  get  to  sea.  The 
gale  proved  to  be  a  severe  one,  and  the  transports  were  sorely 
buffeted  for  nearly  twenty-four  hours.  'Many  were  disturbed 
by  well  founded  occasion  for  fear.  During  the  gale  several 
officers'  horses  on  board  of  some  of  the  vessels  were  thus  lost. 
The  rolling  of  the  vessels  caused  the  horses  to  sway,  and 
breaking  down  their  stalls,  the  poor  animals,  floundered  to 
gether  amid  the  rubbish,  from  one  side  of  the  vessel  to  the 
other,  mangling  and  mutilating  each  other  most  frightfully. 
As  it  was  dangerous  to  venture  among  them,  and  impossible 
to  render  any  service  when  there,  as  the  last  resort,  dozens  of 
these  poor  creatures  were  shot,  and  when  quietness  among 
them  had  been  effected  by  this  means  the  carcasses  were 
thrown  overboard. 

There  were  no  horses  on  board  of  the  Weybossett,  but  the 
inconveniences  of  a  rough  sea  were  suffered  equally  by  the 
troops.  The  soldiers  generally,  both  on  deck  and  below,  found 
it  most  convenient  to  lie  down  and  maintain  that  posture. 
The  cabins  were  the  scene  of  various  gymnastic  feats.  Ath 
letic  men  tried  in  vain  to  keep  a  common  stool  firmly  to  the 


HISTORY    OF   THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V.  151 

floor.  The  Hospital  Steward  was  striving  to  evade  the 
searching  periodic  visits  of  an  iron-bound  medicine  chest.  A 
dignified  officer,  remarkable  for  gallantry  in  civil  life,  waltzed 
for  some  minutes  with  a  tall  three-legged  coal  stove.  The 
Colonel  and  Chaplain,  with  noticeable  accord,  maintained  the 
horizontal,  each  exerting  his  powers  of  moral  suasion  in  a 
protracted  effort  to  repress  a  gastric  rebellion.  The  Adjutant, 
with  a  Bulwer  novel  in  one  hand,  and  the  door  handle  in  the 
other,  managed  to  adhere  to  the  angle  of  the  room  ;  though 
reading,  perhaps  "  mechanically  "  he  was  nevertheless  calm 
and  serene. 

It  was  near  noon  on  the  21st,  before  the  Weybossett  entered 
the  harbor.  Another  delay ;  and  no  permission  given  the 
troops  to  land.  By  this  time  confinement  to  the  narrow 
limits  of  a  medium  sized  transport  had  become  irksome 
almost,  as  imprisonment.  The  men  were  submissively 
disposed,  but  their  instincts  of  personal  and  domestic  propri 
ety  were  violated.  They  longed  to  be  where  water  was  not  doled 
out  by  the  cupfull. 

At  length,  on  the  24th,  the  fleet  again  got  under  way  for 
Federal  Point.  The  weather  was  delightful,  the  sea  unusu 
ally  tranquil.  The  voyage  from  Morehead  City  to  the  mouth 
of  Cape  Fear  River,  on  that  Christmas  Eve,  was  happily 
memorable.  It  was  difficult  to  say  whether  the  studded  can 
opy,  or  the  placid  sea  with  its  imposing  constellation  of  ships, 
presented  the  grander  spectacle.  The  troops  were  much 
better  pleased  than  when  lying  at  anchor.  Having  been 
borne  safely  through  the  gale  by  the  sturdy  Weybossett,  now 
they  enjoyed  a  sense  of  home  security  on  board  of  her  as  she 
glided  quietly  through  the  waters.  The  sound  of  laughter 
and  song  rose  from  every  quarter  of  the  ship.  Story  telling 


152  HISTORY  OF  THE   117TH  B.   N.   Y.   V. 

and  cards  began  the  evening  entertainment  in  the  cabin. 
These  were  at  length  superceded  by  the  formation  of  a  tem 
porary  debating  society.  The  organization  completed,  the 
question  arose  as  to  the  topic  to  be  discussed.  Several  were 
suggested,  and  this  finally  selected. 

"  Should  the  leaders  of  the  rebellion,  now  propose  to 
abandon  the  struggle  for  independence,  and  signify  a  willing 
ness  to  return  the  seceded  states  to  the  Union,  on  condition 
of  a  restoration  of  all  their  former  political  privileges,  would 
the  Government  be  justifiable  in  thus  accepting  them  ?  " 

A  spirited  debate  followed.  It  was  seasoned  with  good  ar 
gument,  wit  and  humor.  One  officer  advanced  an  argument, 
which  will  long  be  remembered  for  its  terseness  and  perti 
nence.  It  ran  nearly  in  the  following  words. 

"  Mr.  President,  would  you  be  willing  to  go  home,  with 
things  in  their  present  shape  ?  To  leave  the  war  while  the 
cause  remains?  Go  home,  leaving  the  nigger  in  the  fence? 
Go  home,  so,  and  you  will  be  likely  at  any  minute  to  be  brought 
back,  to  suffer  as  we  have,  and  may  be,  to  die  as  others  have, 
just  because  you  did  not  do  the  work  up  well.  You  know 
now  Mr.  President,  we  have  had  a  hard  time  of  it,  now,  don't 
let  us  spoil  the  whole  job  just  to  save  the  eternal  nigger.  As 
for  me,  I  say,  dont  let  up  till  you've  cleaned  the  fence." 

Better  speeches  than  that  are  not  common  in  our  legisla 
ture.  It  is  reasonable  to  conclude,  that  the  speaker,  in  his 
civil  functions,  is  pursuing  the  same  intelligent  course.  The 
question  was  decided  in  the  negative. 

Captain  Parish,  then  furnished  several  bottles  of  cham 
paign,  which  were  also  discussed  with  much  animation  and 
apparent  satisfaction.  Meanwhile  the  party  were  entertained 
with  singing.  Capt.  Parish  contributed  the  song,  entitled 


HISTORY   OF  THE  117TH  R.   N.   Y.   V.  153 

"  Twenty  years  Ago."  It  was  well  rendered,  and  well  re 
ceived.  Several  members  of  the  3rd  R.  N.  Y.  Y.  Inf.  con 
tributed  in  the  same  line.  Nor  should  we  forget  the  favor  of 
a  certain  passionate  admirer  of  "  Burrins."  Toasts  were 
given  in  conclusion,  one  of  which,  will  bear  repeating. 

"  This  Christmas  Eve  we'll  ne'er  forget 
Cap.  Parish  and  the  Weybossett." 

By  midnight  all  retired.     On  the  morning  of  the  25th,  the 
entire  fleet  was  off  Fort  Fisher,  and  Admiral  Porter,  was  en 
gaged  in  a  vigorous  bombardment.     He  had  opened  the  day 
before,  and  maintained  it  throughout  the  night.     Toward 
noon  the  debarkation  of  Gen.  Ames'  Division  began.      The 
small  boats  of  the  Naval  fleet,  to  the  number  of  scores,  were 
used   for   this  purpose.     The   place   of  landing   was   about 
three  miles  north  of  Fort  Fisher ;  the  debarkation  was  con 
ducted  under  cover  of  the  fire  from  two  or  three  frigates, 
which  had  been  assigned  to  that  duty.     The  opposition  from 
the  redoubts  and  small  forts  on  the  beach,  was  weak  and  brief. 
Gen.  Curtis,  followed  by  his  brigade,  was  the  first  to  land. 
He  soon  formed,  and  while  the  2nd  Brigade  was  debarking, 
began  to  advance.     The  two  Brigades  marched  up  the  beach, 
the  1st  Brigade  in  line,  worked  up  reconnoitering.     A  portion 
of  the  brigade  had  penetrated  far,  towards  the  Cape  Fear 
River.     At  this  stage,  the  force  was  recalled.     When  this  or 
der  to  withdraw  and  re-embark  reached  the  1st  Brigade,  it 
was  already  near  to  and  in  rear  of  the  Fort ;  so  near  that 
Lieut.  Walling,  of    the  142d  Regiment,  and  others   on  the 
Brigade  Staff,  had  secured  a  battle-flag,  which  had  been  shot 
down  from  the  ramparts,  and  other  articles  from  the  same 
vicinity.     While  the  117th  Regiment  had  reached  the  river 


154  HISTORY   OF  THE   117TH  R.   N.    Y.   V. 

bank,  and  intercepted  and  captured  a  battalion  of  two  hund 
red  and  twenty-two  men,  belonging  to  the  4th  Regiment  N. 
Carolina  Reserves,  which  had  been  sent  to  re-enforce  the  ter 
rified  and  incompetent  garrison. 

The  capture  of  this  battalion  was  effected  under  the  follow 
ing  circumstances :  Soon  after  the  1st  brigade,  under  General 
Curtis,  had  taken  position  just  in  rear  of  the  outer  works  of 
the  Fort,  a  courier  reported  to  the  General  that  a  battery  of 
artillery  were  trying  to  escape  toward  Wilmington  by  the 
river  road.  The  General  immediately  ordered  Captain  Stevens 
(who  was  then  acting  on  his  staff,)  to  take  the  two  companies 
on  the  right  of  the  117th  Regiment,  to  pursue  and  capture 
them  if  possible.  The  Captain  started  at  once,  with  com 
panies  H  and  B,  and  soon  came  up  with  the  guns,  which  the 
fugitives  had  abandoned,  the  more  fully  to  ensure  their  own 
safety.  The  captain  followed  as  far  as  'seemed  expedient, 
halted  and  threw  out  his  command  as  skirmishers,  when  Col. 
Daggett  came  up  with  the  balance  of  the  regiment.  While 
the  command  was  assuming  a  defensive  form,  Captain  Thomas 
came  in  with  a  rebel  officer,  one  Major  Reese,  whom  he 
had  met,  and  who  was  inquiring  for  the  Commanding  officer. 
The  Major  said  he  had  a  command  of  some  over  200  men,  or 
boys,  which  he  wished  to  surrender.  On  being  farther  ques 
tioned,  he  said  his  command  was  a  part  of  the  North  Carolina 
Junior  Reserves,  and  that  they  were  on  the  river  bank,  a  few 
hundred  yards  distant.  The  Colonel,  naturally  enough,  sus 
pected  a  trick,  and  inclined  to  conduct  accordingly.  The 
Major  observing  this,  asked  the  Colonel  if  he  was  a  Mason. 
The  Colonel  replied,  "No,  but  the  Captain  is,"  (referring  to 
Captain  Stevens.)  The  Major  then  stepped  up  to  the  Cap 
tain,  and  soon  made  himself  known  as  a  brother  in  the  fra- 


HISTORY   OF   THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V.  155 

ternity,  and  satisfied  him  as  to  the  truth  of  his  statement. 
Upon  this,  the  Captain  told  the  Colonel,  that  if  he  would  fur 
nish  him  a  guard  of  eight  or  ten  men,  he  would  go  with  the 
Major,  receive  the  surrender,  and  bring  the  men  in.  The 
Col.  replied  substantially,  that  his  men  were  all  right,  but  his 
faith  was  weak.  The  Major  having  overheard  the  conversa 
tion,  now  remarked,  "  Captain,  I  had  rather  you  would  not 
take  a  guard."  On  being  asked  why,  he  said  he  was  fearful 
"that  the  boys,  on  hearing  a  number  advancing  on  them, 
might  fire,  arid  that  he  wanted  the  surrender  accomplished 
without  any  further  delay  or  trouble." 

The  Captain  then  remarked,  "  Very  well,  Major,  I  will  go 
with  you  alone,"  which  he  did.  The  two  had  gone  about  200 
yards  beyond  our  lines,  when  they  were  brought  to  a  sudden 
halt  by  the  sound  of  the  clicking  of  muskets.  The  Captain 
at  once  demanded >of  the  Major,  "What  does  that  mean," 
when  he  got  this  reply :  "  The  boys  are  preparing  to  fire  on 
us ;  wait  a  moment."  The  Major  then  advanced  three  or  four 
paces  and  gave  a  preconcerted  signal,  which  was  answered, 
when  he  added,  "Don't  fire,  boys,"  the  answer  came,  "No 
Major,  we  won't."  Then  turning  to  the  Captain,  the  Major, 
in  alow  tone,  said,  "Come  on,  Captain,  its  all  right."  It 
being  very  dark,  the  two  officers  were  not  seen  till  almost  in 
the  midst  of  the  troops.  The  Major  then  made  the  announce 
ment,  "Well  boys,  I've  surrendered."  "Not  by  a  d 11 

sight!"  said  one  soldier,  with  great  emphasis.  "Yes!  Yes! 
I  have,"  said  the  Major,  "  We  are  surrounded  and  can't  get 
away."  "Yes,"  added  the  Captain,  who  not  having  spoken, 
had  not  been  specially  observed  nor  recognized,  "  We  have 
got  you  Boys,  you  may  as  well  give  it  up."  Upon  this,  one 


156  HISTORY   OF  THE   117TH   R.   N.    Y.   V. 

of  them  approached  the  Captain,  and,  after  peering  in  his  face 
and  scrutinizing  him  minutely,  broke  out  with,  "Be  you  a 
Yankee  officer  ?"  The  Captain  answered,  "  Yes,"  when  the 
soldier,  retiring  one  step,  struck  a  peculiarly  expressive  atti 
tude  and  exclaimed,  "  Well,  by  G — d ! !"  The  Captain  at  once 
ordered  the  Major  to  form  his  men  in  marching  order,  which 
he  did,  the  Captain,  in  the  meanwhile,  being  asked  many  times 
what  was  to  be  done  with  them,  if  they  were  to  be  killed,  &c. 
<fcc.  On  being  assured  that  they  would  be  better  off  than  in 
their  own  army,  they  came  without  further  questioning,  say 
ing  to  one  another,  "We  can't  be  any  worse  off,  any  how." 
"We  have  never  received  a  cent  of  pay,  nor  scarcely  anything 
to  eat,  except  what  we  have  picked  up."  They  were  soon 
under  way.  On  approaching  the  lines,  they  were  met  by 
Captain  Thomas  with  a  squad  of  men,  in  search  of  Captain 
Stevens,  his  long  absence  having  excited  suspicion  of  rebel 
treachery.  On  being  assured  it  was  all  right,  he  seemed 
much  relieved,  when  he  faced  about  preceding  the  prisoners. 

Soon  after  gaining  our  lines,  and  while  the  Captain  was 
forming  the  prisoners  for  the  purpose  of  stacking  their  arms, 
Col.  Daggett  came  up  and  informed  Captain  Stevens,  that  he, 
(the  Col.,)  had  just  received  a  peremptory  order,  to  retire 
immediately,  by  the  shortest  possible  route  to  the  place  of  de 
barkation. 

Here,  then,  a  new  difficulty  presented  itself.  The  117th 
could  not  be  encumbered  with  the  captured  arms,  and  it 
would  not  do  to  leave  them  to  the  enemy.  The  captain  rep 
resenting  the  prisoners  as  thoroughly  frightened,  it  was  de 
termined  to  let  them  march  down  as  they  were,  bearing  their 
own  pieces,  which  was  done  j  they,  marching  silently  under 


HISTORY   OP   THE    117TH   B.    N.    Y.    V.  157 

the  guns  of  the  fort,  and  not  knowing  till  morning,  that  their 
whole  number  of  222  men  and  7  officers,  had  been  taken 
prisoners  by  one  man,  and  that,  while  in  possession  of  their 
loaded  pieces,  they  had  been  brought  in  by  a  guard  inferior 
to  them  in  numbers. 

Though  it  was  impossible,  in  the  presence  of  these  proofs 
of  our  progress,  to  discern  the  military  propriety  of  the  order, 
the  Brigade  returned  to  the  place  of  debarkation,  arriving 
there  about  9  o'clock  P.  M.  The  3d  Brigade  had  already  de 
parted,  and  the  2d,  despite  the  increasing  turbulence  of  the 
sea,  had  nearly  all  recovered  their  places  on  the  transports. 
Soon  after  they  had  all  done  so,  the  1st  Brigade  attempted  it, 
but  the  violence  of  the  surf  promptly  arrested  the  work,  and 
emphatically  forbade  its  renewal.  Then  followed, 

A  GLOOMY  NIGHT  FOR  THE  1ST  BRIGADE. 

Darkness  was  about  us — we  were  destitute  of  materials  for 
shelter,  or  tools  for  entrenching — a  heavy  and  cold  rain  was 
upon  us — the  forbidding  sea  roared  on  one  side,  and  Hoke's 
division  threatened  on  the  other.  What  a  difference  in  the 
situation  of  the  Regiment,  contrasting  this,  its  Christmas  night, 
with  its  Christmas  eve. 

It  was  not  till  the  27th  that  the  sea  abated  sufficiently  to 
permit  the  command  to  return  to  the  transports,  and  even 
then  the  small  boats,  used  to  convey  the  troops  to  the  vessels, 
could  be  managed  only  by  the  aid  of  ropes,  attached  to  vessels 
anchored  for  the  purpose,  and  to  some  object  on  the  beaeh. 
These  small  boats  had  to  be  kept  so  far  from  the  water  line, 
that  it  was  necessary  to  wade  breast  deep  to  get  into  them, 
and  then  the  transfer  was  attended  with  some  danger.  By 
11 


158  HISTORY  OF  THE  117TH  R.    N.    Y.    V. 

this  tedious  process,  on  Tuesday,  the  Brigade  was  relieved 
from  its  perilous  situation  on  Federal  Point.  It  followed  the 
rest  of  the  Division  northward,  reaching  Aikin's  Landing,  on 
the  James,  on  the  evening  of  the  30th  of  December,  the 
troops  having  been  absent  some  twenty-three  days,  and  nearly 
all  this  time,  on  ship  board.  The  rude  quarters  were  still 
standing,  having  been  occupied  by  other  troops,  but  they  had 
been  thoroughly  stripped  of  many  little  conveniences.  After 
four  or  five  days  spent  in  re-collecting  the  many  little  means 
of  comfort,  such  as  fire  places,  stoves,  fuel,  &c.,  for  the  weath 
er  was  quite  cold,  an  order  was  again  received  to  prepare  to 
move  at  short  notice.' 

Gen.  Grant  was  displeased  at  the  barren  results  of  the  ex 
pedition.  The  thoroughness  of  Gen  Curtis'  advance,  afford 
ing  him  a  better  knowledge  of  the  situation  than  that  posses 
sed  by  any  other  officer,  immediately  on  his  return,  he  report 
ed  the  result  of  his  observations  to  the  Lieutenant-General. 
This  report  seems  to  have  been  a  basis  of  future  action  with 
the  Commander-in-Chief.  The  strength  of  Curtis'  convictions, 
as  to  the  untenability  of  the  fort,  in  the  face  of  so  great  an 
amount  of  high  professional  authority,  must  have  been  an  in 
teresting  topic  for  his  contemplative  mind, 

As  a  manifestation  of  this  intense  conviction,  he  could 
hardly  regard  with  disfavor,  the  1st  Brigade's  tardy  return  to 
the  beach,  on  Christmas  night. 

Among  the  questions  put  to  Gen.  Curtis,  were  these : 

"Is  Gen.  Curtis  still  of  the  opinion  that  he  could  .have  taken 
Fort  Fisher  ?" 

"Does  he  think  it  can,  at  any  time  hereafter,  be  taken  by 
an  assault  ?" 


HISTORY   OP  THE   11TTH  R.    N.    Y.   V.  159 

These  questions  were  answered  affirmatively.  In  his  final 
report,  Lieut.-  Gen.  Grant  thus  alludes  to  Gen.  Curtis  and  his 
staff: 

"  On  the  return  of  the  expedition,  officers  and  men,  among 
them  Brevet  Major  General  (then  Brevet  Brigadier  General) 
N.  M.  Curtis,  First  Lieutenant  G.  W.  Ross,*  —  Regiment 
Vermont  Volunteers,  1st  Lieut.  G.  W.  Walling  and  2d  Lieut. 
George  Simpson,  142nd  N.  Y.  Vols.,  voluntarily  reported  to 
me,  that  when  recalled,  they  were  nearly  into  the  Fort,  and 
in  their  opinion,  it  could  have  been  taken  without  much  loss." 

Gen.  Grant,  resolving  on  a  new  attack,  the  2d  division,  on. 
the  3d  of  January,  scarcely  four  days  after  its  return,  broke; 
camp  and  set  out  on  another  expedition  against  Fort  Fisher... 

*Lieutenant  Ross  was  a  member  of  the  117th  Regiment  N.  Y.  V. 


160  HISTORY   OP  THE   117TH  R.    N.   Y.   V. 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

CAPTURE  OF  FORT  FISHER  AND  EXPLOSION  OF 
THE  MAGAZINE. 

Break  Camp  at  Chapia's  Farm. — March  and  Embarkation. — Voyage. — Landing 
on  Federal  Point. — Advance. — Assume  the  Defensive. — The  Bombardment. — 
Offensive  movements  begun  by  the  1st  Brigade. — The  Investment. — lie-enforce 
ment  of  the  Enemy. — Preparations  for  the  Assault.— Bombardment  continues. 
— The  Charge. — The  Conflict. — Its  Intensity  and  duration. — The  Crisis. — 
Surrender  of  the  Garrison. — Description  of  the  Fort. — Fearful  Expedients  for 
its  defense. — Explosion  of  the  Magazine. 

THE  second  expedition,  the  land  force  of  which  was  placed 
Hinder  command  of  Gen.  Terry,  set  out  from  Hampton  Roads 
•on  the  9th  day  of  January,  1865. 

The  promptness  with  which  the  immense  armada  was  re 
organized,  and  both  physically  and  morally  re-enforced,  and 
]re-projected  against  the  defences  of  Wilmington,  without  the 
•contrasts  of  1862,  was  sufficient  to  immortalize  the  name  of 
•Gen.  Grant.  Our  start  and  progress  were  as  follows  : 

The  regiment  under  Col.  Daggett,  hroke  camp  and  moved 
toward  Bermuda  Hundred  with  the  brigade,  under  Gen. 
€urtis,  late  in  the  afternoon  of  the  3d.  The  weather  was 
cold  and  stormy,  and  of  course  the  roads  treacherous  and 
toilsome.  The  night  was  spent  in  a  pine  woods  about  a  mile 
from  the  landing.  The  storm  continued  till  late  in  the  night; 
meanwhile  the  troops  of  the  entire  division  lay  on  the  wet 


HISTORY   OF  THE   117TH   B.   N.    Y.   V,  161 

leaves  under  the  dripping  snow  burdened  pines.  In  the  morn 
ing,  river  transports  convoyed  them  to  Fort  Monroe,  where 
the  fleet  was  re-assembling.  The  1st  brigade,  consisting  then 
of  some  fourteen  hundred  troops,  there  embarked  on  board 
the  splendid  and  capacious  ocean  steamer,  "Atlantic."  This 
provision  was  made,  no  doubt,  the  better  to  secure  the  simul 
taneous,  or  at  least,  the  systematic  landing  of  the  advance 
brigade,  thus  averting  the  confusion  which  might  otherwise 
result  from  the  tardy  arrival  of  any  portion. 

As  every  thing  appeared  to  be  done  as  early  as  possible,  so 
that  important  interests  might  not  suffer  from  attention  to 
minor  affairs,  the  troops  were  on  board  about  four  or  five  days 
before  the  fleet  moved.  After  getting  under  way,  a  day  or 
two  was  spent  in  the  vicinity  of  Beaufort,  N.  C. 

The  fleet,  having  arrived  in  the  vicinity  during  the  night, 
about  8  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  Friday,  January  13th, 
Gen.  Terry's  force  landed  about  two  miles  north  of  the  Fort. 
The  debarkation  was  *  conducted  under  shelter  of  the  fire 
of  the  Frigate  Brooklyn. 

It  is  seldom,  even  in  war,  that  a  grander  sight  presents, 
than  was  afforded  there  that  morning.  The  greater  armed 
portion  of  that  majestic  fleet  was  flashing,  and  raining  its 
fiery  judgments  on  the  fort  and  garrison,  while  the  bellowing 
of  ponderous  artillery,  filled  the  entire  space,  bound  by  the 
visible  horizon. 

Scores  of  transports  lay  at  anchor  apposite  this  proposed 
landing  place.  The  Brooklyn,  like  an  enraged  lioness,  went 
up  and  down  parallel  with  the  beach,  covering  the  debarking 
troops.  From  her  wide  mouthed  guns,  now  and  then,  streams 
of  fire  leapt  out  over  the  waters,  with  a  deafening  explosion, 


162  HISTORY   OF  THE   117TH  E.    N.    Y.    V. 

then  the  huge  shell,  taking  up  the  sound,  went  tearing  and 
screeching  through  the  air,  when  back  came  the  faint  report 
of  its  explosion,  mingled  with  that  of  the  crash  of  falling 
timber  in  the  far  off  wood-land — the  very  indistinctness  of  the 
sound  testifying  impressively  of  distance,  velocity,  and  power. 

Dozens  of  little  boats  were  plying  to  and  fro  and  about 
great  transport  ships,  reminding  one  of  a  country  lake  scene, 
where  downy  web  footed  infantry,  glide  confidingly  in  the 
shadow  of  their  graceful  paternity.  After  a  few  of  these 
buoyant  little  messengers  had  made  a  trip  to  the  beach,  a 
collection  of  our  boys  in  blue,  presented  a  pleasant  contrast 
to  the  white  sandy  background.  Each  on  board  watched 
with  pleasurable  interest,  the  extension  of  that  glorious  cloud 
of  political  promise,  till  the  time  came  for  him  to  contribute 
to  its  growth.  The  rolicking  white-capped  breakers  did  not 
suffer  many  to  gain  terra  fir  ma  without  an  involuntary  bath, 
but  on  the  beach  a  nicely  tempered  air,  and  a  genial  sun 
shine,  awaited  to  dry,  cheer  and  comfof t. 

A  skirmish  line  having  been  thrown  out  from  this  centre, 
and  extended,  the  entire  force  was  landed.  Late  in  the  after 
noon,  Gen.  Paine's  division,  (colored  troops,)  marched  down 
the  beach  nearly  a  mile.  A  little  later,  the  head  of  this  col 
umn  pushed  on  across  the  peninsula,  intrenching  during  the 
night.  Other  brigades  followed.  The  1st  Brigade  also  formed 
and  marched  southward  along  the  sea,  till  it  came  to  an  elabor 
ately  planned  rebel  fort,  in  process  of  construction.  From  this 
point  it  moved  inland,  and  soon  connected  with  Gen.  Paine's 
command,  and  with  it  traversed  the  peninsula  of  Federal  Point. 
The  night  was  spent  in  intrenching.  By  morning,  the  ample, 
timbers  of  the  unfinished  rebel  fort,  had  been  transferred  to 
more  honorable  places  in  our  new  work,  which  now  frowned 


HISTORY   OF   THE    11TTH   B.    N.    Y.    V.  163 

formidably  toward  Hoke's  command,  the  most  enterprising  of 
whose  skirmishers,  had  already  inspected  the  situation. 

The  chief  object  of  this  defensive  line,  being  to  cover  oper 
ations  against  the  Fort,  in  the  afternoon,  the  1st  Brigade  hav 
ing  been  relieved  for  that  purpose,  marched  diagonally 
across  the  peninsula,  from  where  the  intrenched  line  left  the 
beach,  to  the  bank  of  the  river,. at  a  point  about  half  a  mile 
in  rear  of  the  Fortification. 

.While  making  this  movement,  the  brigade  traversed  an 
open  space  and  a  gentle  eminence,  which  commanded  a  view 
of  the  river  and  the  rebel  gunboat  Chickamauga,  lying  in  the 
stream.  Unhappily,  the  discovery  was  mutual,  for  the  brigade 
had  scarcely  discovered  itself,  before  she  sent  three  or  four 
well  directed  shell,  which  killed  one  man  and  wounded  sev 
eral.  Among  the  latter  was  Captain  Reeves,  of  the  3d  Regt. 
N.  Y.  Yols.,  who  had  his  right  leg,  from  just  below  the  knee, 
instantaneously  carried  away  by  a  fragment  of  shell. 

The  position  of  the  brigade  for  the  night,  was  very  near  a 
group  of  cheap  tenements,  known  as  Pilotville.  The  largest 
of  the  houses,  it  was  stated,  had  been  owned,  or  at  least  oc 
cupied  by  Col.  Lamb,  commander  of  Fort  Fisher.  In  that 
unobtrusive  dwelling,  which  presented  indications  of  having 
been  informally  vacated,  an  officer  picked  up  an  unfinished 
letter  from  the  wife  of  the  gallant  Lamb.  In  it  she  was  giv 
ing  her  parents  an  account  of  the  Butler  demonstration,  and 
a  glowing  description  of  the  able  manner  in  which  the  Fort 
had  been  defended  by  her  husband.  It  appears  that  while  Mrs. 
Lamb  was  writing  an  elaborate  burlesque  on  the  former  at 
tack,  she  was  interrupted  by  the  arrival  of  Porter  and  Terry. 
The  hated  Yankees,  instead  of  her  parents,  read  her  epistle, 
and  instead  of  Col.  Lamb,  promenading  the  parapet  of  the 


164  HISTORY   OF   THE    117TH   R.    N.    Y.    Y. 

renowned  fort,  as  commanding  General  of  the  Post,  the  fort 
speedily  fell,  and  the  Col.  became  a  wounded  prisoner. 

Subsequent  operations  in  the  reduction  and  occupation  of 
Fort  Fisher,  might  be  as  readably  presented,  perhaps,  by  let 
ters  written  soon  after,  under  the  inspiration  of  then  recent 
scenes. 

"On  Saturday  evening,  Jan.  14th,  the  1st  Brigade  of  2d 
Division,  24th  A.  C.,  commanded  by  Gen.  Curtis,  was  lying 
about  half  a  mile  in  rear  of  the  works,  and  under  the  fitful 
shelling  of  the  rebel  fort  and  gunboat.  This  Brigade  com 
prised  the  following  named  regiments  :  117th,  3d,  142d  and 
the  112th,  all  N.  Y.  State  organizations.  Early  in  the  even 
ing  Capt.  Magill  and  Lieut.  Fairbanks  of  the  117th  Regiment, 
deployed  a  skirmish  line  across  from  a  point  as  near  the  beach 
as  the  firing  from  the  fleet  would  permit,  to  the  river  on  our 
right.  Though  these  officers  and  privates  had  been  deprived 
of  their  rest  on  the  previous  night,  they  responded  to  the  call 
with  a  zest  which  betokened  disaster  to  the  enemy. 

The  intrepid  advancement  of  this  line,  excited  the  fears  of 
the  enemy  to  such  a  degree  that  he  became  unwilling  longer 
to  trust  to  the  repelling  force  of  the  few  field  pieces  he  could 
operate,  when  he  proposed  to  combat  us  with  our  own  weap 
ons,  and  accordingly  deployed  a  counter  skirmish  line.  About 
this  time,  ours  was  re-enforced,  when  we  opened  on  the  un 
sheltered  troops  of  the  garrison,  a  fire  so  severe,  that  by  10 
o'clock  they  retired  within  the  works  in  disorder,  where  they 
passed  the  night  in  a  state  of  unaccountable  quiescence.  The 
quiet,  which  till  morning  prevailed  in  the  fort,  probably  gave 
rise  to  the  statement,  in  the  rebel  papers,  to  the  effect  that 
the  garrison  had  betrayed  a  lack  of  vigilance.  It  is  a  fact 


HISTORY   OF  THE   117TH  R.  N.    Y.   V.  165 

that  their  inactivity,  during  the  night,  was  of  a  degree  border 
ing  on  torpor. 

Several  of  our  line  ventured  within  a  few  yards  of  the 
stockade  without  provoking  a  shot  or  eliciting  a  sound.  A 
soldier,  posted  as  guard  near  the  sally  port,  apparently  grow 
ing  weary  of  their  drowsy  indifference,  forsook  his  post  and 
sensibly  joined  the  Union  "  wide  awakes."  Rebel  inactivity 
did  not,  however,  extend  beyond  .the  limits  of  the  fort,  for 
the  "  Chickamauga "  steamed  up  the  river  before  midnight, 
and  began  to  operate  against  the  line  of  General  Paine  ;  and, 
disclosed  by  the  light  of  her  smoke  pipe,  a  small  river  steam 
boat  was  seen  to  make  two  or  three  trips  from  a  point  up  the 
stream  to  Fort  Buchanan,  but,  whether  her  business  was  that 
of  re-enforcing,  or  evacuating  Fort  Fisher,  was  a  matter  of 
conjecture. 

Admiral  Porter  continued  his  attentions  to  the  devoted 
strong-hold  most  perseveringly  throughout  the  night,  and,  if 
the  rebels  have  forgotten  the  attractive  sublimity  of  our 
Country's  beneficence,  those  in  Fort  Fisher  can  testify  that  her 
vengeance  is  terrible.  Those  in  charge  of  the  skirmish  line 
did  not  fail  to  improve  the  advantage  to  be  gained  by  rebel 
passiveness,  for  by  morning  our  skirmish  line  lay  within  200 
yards  of  the  parapet,  so  that  no  one,  but  a  reckless  desperado, 
would  attempt  to  load  any  of  the  un-dismantled  pieces  that 
frowned  so  formidably  from  the  embrasures;  but  their  guns  at 
the  Mound  Battery  and  Fort  Buchanan,  annoyed  us  consider 
ably,  though  without  delaying  the  advance,  or  deranging  our 
plans.  Another  ingenious  device  of  theirs  and,  characteris 
tic,  and  from  which  we  suffered,  was  that  of  their  loading 
light  pieces  under  cover,  running  them  out  to  discharge  them, 


166  HISTORY  OF  THE  117TH  R.   N.   Y.   V. 

and  then  withdrawing  to  reload.  The  lateral  extension  of 
the  little,  pits,  dug  and  occupied  by  our  skirmishers  during 
the  night,  provided  them  in  the  morning  with  a  line  of  breast 
works,  sufficiently  roomy  to  accommodate  a  couple  of  regi 
ments,  which  were  sent  forward  to  insure  the  position. 

The  morning  of  Sunday,  January  15th,  was  bright,  fair  and 
peaceful,  contrasting  strongly  with  the  political  storm  then 
raging  on  Federal  Point,  and  which  was  soon  to  break  forth 
with  renewed  violence.  During  the  night,  the  enemy  had  re 
assured  his  determination,  as  he  was  still  re-enforcing  his 
doomed  garrison,  for  the  little  steamer,  about  9  A.  M.,  went 
plodding  down  the  river,  laden  with  what  some  supposed  were 
Confederate  troops.  This  suspicion  was  speedily  verified,  for 
soon  after  the  little  transport  was  seen  to  stop  opposite  Fort 
Buchanan,  a  column  of  soldiers  emerged  from  the  sally  port 
of  that  work,  and  marched  along  in  close  order  on  the 
level  leading  toward  Fort  Fisher.  At  this,  the  fleet  fired  more 
rapidly,  and  over  the  latter  work,  in  a  direction  which  ricoch- 
etted  the  fragments  of  shell  on  and  parallel  with  the  rebel 
thoroughfare.  In  obedience  with  their  ready  instincts  they 
fell  back,  attenuated  their  column,  and,  on  a  double  quick, 
made  for  the  protection  of  Fort  Fisher.  I  am  satisfied  that 
they  did  not  run  that  mile  of  gauntlet  with  impunity.  For 
my  own  part,  I  could  draw  no  comfort  from  the  thought  of 
the  enemy's  accession,  though  it  almost  seemed  to  me  that 
some  of  our  officers  did,  for,  on  my  alluding  to  the  circum 
stance  in  the  light  of  our  misfortune,  I  was  answered,  "  So 
much  greater  will  be  their  loss  at  the  fall  of  Fisher."  If  the 
rebels  had  been  re-enforced  both  morally  and  numerically,  it 
is  sufficient  to  say  that  the  chill  dews  of  the  night  had  not 
dampened  the  ardor  of  the  troops  of  Gen.  Ames'  Division. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  117TH  B.   N.   Y.    V.  167 

On  our  side,  too,  there  was  moving  of  troops.  The  other  brig 
ades  of  the  division  filed  in  and- rested  in  rear  of  the  1st ;  but, 
even  without 'these  military  indications,  we  could  discern  that 
we  were  on  the  eve  of  a  momentous  and  absorbing  issue.  In 
the  course  of  human  events,  we  had  again  reached  a  time  that 
"  tries  men's  souls."  It  was  traceable  in  the  faces  of  those 
about  us.  One  could  read  there  the  silent  language  of  stern 
determination  and  high  resolve.  Men  were  cheerful,  but  not 
mirthful ;  serious  but  not  solemn.  In  every  eye  might  be 
read,  not  fear,  but  volumes  of  thought,  too  deep  for  utter 
ance.  One,  alas!  now  gone,  approached  me  hopeful  and 
smiling — our  eyes  met — we  clasped  hands,  and  while  convers 
ing  he  slipped  into  my  hand  his  family  address,  when,  with 
mutually  lingering  gaze,  we  parted  forever.  The  demeanor, 
on  the  eve  of  battle  of  an  intelligent  soldiery,  whose  cause  is 
that  of  God  and  humanity,  I  had  observed  before,  but  never 
when  so  apparent. 

It  was  now  near  noon — Word  had  already  passed  round 
that  the  grand  charge  would  take  place  at  3  o'clock.  Time 
wore  away  slowly.  Before  the  hour,  Gen.  Curtis,  whose 
athletic  frame  is  typical  of  the  vigor  of  the  military  organiza 
tion  he  commands,  was  at  his  post.  There  he  lay  couchant, 
with  his  Brigade,  eager  and  impatient  to  spring  upon  the 
throat  of  the  impious  Confederacy — to  close  forever  the  food- 
pipe  through  which  England  was  subsisting,  on  Democratic 
soil,  a  rebellious  aristocracy  which  she  has  not  the  courage  to 
adopt. 

A  party  had  been  sent  with  axes  to  effect  several  openings 
or  passages  through  the  stockade  barrier,  which  they  accom 
plished  without  serious  loss.  Similar  interruptions  in  the 
line  of  stockade  had  been  made  by  the  fire  of  the  Navy,  which 


168  HISTORY  OP  THE    117TH  B.   N.   Y.   V. 

were  the  openings  made  by  the  breaking  down  of  a  stockade 
post  here  and  there.  The  destruction  of  this  verticle  abattis 
was  no  where,  I  think,  so  complete  as  is  represented  in  the  N. 
Y.  Pictorials.  Entire,  it  constituted  a  pretty  substantial  bar 
rier,  being  a  file  or  line  of  logs  set  upright,  with  the  lower 
ends  secured  in  horizontal  sills  or  sleepers,  covered  with  dirt, 
the  upright  pickets  being  in  so  close  contact  that  a  hand  could 
not  be  inserted  between  them,  and  the  upper  extremities 
sharpened,  and  terminating  10  or  12  feet  above  the  level  of 
the  ground.  It  is  plain  that  scaling  it,  would  have  been  slow 
and  hazardous.  The  marines  were  to  attack  on  the  sea  side, 
while  the  soldiers  attacked  on  the  north  side. 

During  all  the  day,  especially  from  about  9  o'clock,  the 
firing  of  the  fleet  on  the  fort  had  been  most  terrific.  The 
troops  of  our  brigade  were  aware  that  their  present  compara 
tive  immunity  was  transient ;  that  at  the  moment  of  the 
charge,  the  bombardment  would  cease,  or  would  be  much  less 
hurtful  to  the  enemy,  and  that,  at  the  instant,  the  parapet 
would  swarm  with  infuriated  foemen.  The  moment  was  at 
hand — the  signal  from  the  Brigade  commander  had  been  de 
termined  on.  When  everything  was  ready,  the  General  would 
rise,  step  out  of  the  intrenchments  and  wave  his  hat.  All 
feared  that  this  deliberate  exposure  of  his  person  might  draw 
the  fatal  minnie.  Not  far  in  advance  towered  the  frowning 
Fortress,  within  which  were  the  desperate  emissaries  of  red- 
handed  treason,  and,  though  none  saw,  all  knew,  that  above, 
in  imperial  majesty,  sat  the  Angel  of  Death.  It  was  an  awful 
moment,  and,  while  with  compressed  lips  our  troops  were 
breathing  a  silent  petition  for  home  and  country,  the  signal 
was  given,  and  the  line,  despite  the  storm  of  bullets  and  can- 
nister  which  strewed  the  interval  with  dead  and  wounded, 


HISTORY  OF  THE  117TH  R.   N.    Y.    V.  169 

rushed  forward  like  a  tempest,  through  the  stockade,  and  up 
the  parapet,  and,  in  a  trice,  a  veteran  Union  flag  fluttered  on 
the  parapet.  If  the  roar  of  artillery  abated,  it  was  more  than 
supplied  by  the  yelling  and  the  din  of  deadly  musketry.  All 
along  on  the  crest  of  the  parapet,  as  far  to  the  left  as  our  line 
extended,  might  be  seen  the  desperate  contest.  The  national 
colors  and  the  insurgent  rag,  were  seen  simultaneouly  and 
then  alternately,  on  the  same  traverse.  Hand  to  hand,  foot  to 
foot,  the  combatants  fought.  Inch  by  inch,  did  our  brave  boys 
press  back  that  serrated  line  of  gray. 

It  was  little  past  3  o'clock,  P.  M. 

I  had  heard  contending  musketry,  but  its  duration  was 
short ;  but  here,  a  long  hour  dragged  by  ;  wounded  were  borne 
off.  The  2d  Brigade  advanced,  and  then  the  3d— the  fight 
went  on.  The  sun  sank  slowly  and  lay  on  the  western  hori 
zon — the  rattle  of  musketry  knew  no  abatement.  Twilight 
came — but  no  lull  in  the  storm  of  battle.  At  length  darkness 
came — only  to  reveal  more  distinctly  the  lurid  flash  of  battle, 
and  to  disclose  perchance  a  glimpse  of  the  pallid  faces  of  the 
dead.  Ten  o'clock  arrived — but  'with  it  no  rest,  except  for 
him  who  had  lain  him  down  in  his  last  sleep.  From  3  till 
10|,  more  than  7  long  hours  of  untold  eifort  and  agony — and 
there  was  a  calm — a  welcome  stillness — a  short  suggestive  in 
terval  of  sound,  and  then — a  cheer — 0!  such  a  cheer.  It 
thrilled  ones  every  nerve  and  reached  the  inmost  soul,  suffus 
ing  eyes  unused  to  weep.  FORT  FISHER  HAD  FALLEN 
WITH  HER  ARMS  AND  GARRISON. 

It  is  difficult  to  convey  to  those  unacquainted  with  the  de 
fences  of  Wilmington  and  of  the  peculiar  construction  of 
Fort  Fisher,  an  idea  of  the  obstacles  to  be  overcome  in 
reducing  those  works.  It  has  been  justly  observed  that,  con- 


170  HISTORY   OF   THE   117TH  B.   N.    Y.    V. 

sidcring  the  strength  of  the  position,  the  severity  of  its  loss  to 
the  Confederacy,  the  prospective  effect  of  the  capture  in  pro 
moting  the  desired  peace,  the  amount  of  property  taken,  the 
number  of  prisoners  captured,  together  with  the  lightness  of 
our  loss  numerically — our  victory  there  will  stand  out  in  his 
tory  as  one  of  the  greatest  of  the  war. 

I  speak  of  our  numerical  loss  as  small,  and  yet  it  was  se 
vere.  Losses  from  such  an  army  as  ours,  are  small  only  re 
latively.  A  practical  Democracy  engenders  no  distinct  class 
of  "poor  white  trash "  groveling  in  hopeless  ignorance  over 
beyond  the  impassable  gulf  of  social  caste.  Our  private  Sol 
diers  are  a  vital  part  of  our  social  fabric,  while  the  loss  of 
such  men  as  led  and  fell  on  that  occasion,  is  felt  throughout 
all  the  ramifications  of  an  extensive  community.  Let  their 
memory  be  embalmed  in  our  hearts ;  and  then,  who  can  meet 
the  maimed  and  mutilated  heroes  of  our  army  without  emo 
tions  of  gratitude — suggesting  the  thought,  "  this  he  bears  for 
me." 

Though  they  were  repulsed  with  severe  loss,  the  early  ad 
vance  of  the  sailors  and  marines  on  the  sea  side,  by  diverting 
the  garrison  fire,  may  have  measurably  exempted  the  land 
troops.  On  the  land  side  of  the  fort,  at  its  external  base,  just 
within  the  stockade,  the  enemy  had  dug  down  and  walled 
up  with  sandbags,  a  sort  of  sub-fort — which  communicated,  by 
an  underground  passage  with  the  main  work — in  it,  they 
had  two  light  guns,  placed  on  a  couple  of  short  sections  of 
rail-road.  The  object  and  use  of  these,  were  to  enfilade, 
with  a  sweeping  fire,  the  attacking  force,  whenever  it  had 
passed  the  abattis.  These  guns  commanded  the  outer  slope 
of  the  parapet.  The  gunners  were  exposed  only  while  firing 
— withdrawing  the  guns  to  reload.  The  value  of  such  an 


HISTORY   OF  THE  117TH  R.    N.    Y.   V.  171 

arrangement  is  obvious,  and  might  have  served  them  effect 
ually  had  they  been  attacked  by  an  irresolute  or  halting  brig 
ade,  as  it  was,  their  advantage,  though  afflicting  to  us,  was 
transient. 

I  am  inclined  to  believe,  that  the  intensely  positive  mood 
of  the  1st  Brigade  which  actuated  it  in  that  irresistible  charge, 
and  which,  no  doubt  impaired  the  military  tone  of  the  enemy, 
was  due,  in  some  degree  to  its  unchanged  impression  that  the 
fort  could  be  taken.  This  conviction,  it  may  be  said,  possess 
ed  the  brigade  since  Gen.  Curtis  volunteered  to  take  the 
works  on  Christmas  day.  On  the  return  trip,  after  the  But 
ler  demonstration,  the  writer  suffered  reproof  for  attempting 
to  moderate  the  critical  denunciations  of  his  associates,  who 
persisted  in  representing  the  withdrawal  as  "  palpable  folly." 
The  correctness  of  their  judgment  was  fully  confirmed  by  the 
testimony  of  the  commander  of  the  fort,  Col.  Lamb,  who 
stated  that  the  defensive  power  of  the  garrison  was  two  or 
three  times  greater  at  the  time  of  its  capture,  than  it  was  on 
the  25th  of  December. 

They  had  made  another  very  fearful  defensive  provision. 
After  the  surrender  of  the  work  we  discovered  some  25  heav 
ily  charged  torpedoes  ranged  along  the  stockade,  just  where 
an  attacking  force  would  be  delayed  and  accumulate.  Each 
of  these,  by  means  of  an  isolated  wire,  communicated  with 
a  heavy  galvanic  battery  placed  in  one  of  the  bomb-proofs. 
Had  this  conception  succeeded,  our  losses  would  have  been 
fearful,  and  perhaps  the  first  attack  a  failure.  Fortunately, 
their  infernal  apparatus  was  completely  disconcerted  by  the 
violence  of  the  bombardment. 

Fort  Fisher  presented  a  bold  and  heavy  relief  of  sand  bank, 
of  some  twenty,  some  say  thirty  feet  high,  arranged  in  an 


172  HISTORY   OF   THE   117TH   R.   N.    Y.    V. 

irregular  curve  ;  from  without,  presenting  a  succession  of 
heavy  guns,  separated  by  broad  traverses,  the  tops  of  which 
were  so  regularly  formed  as  to  appear,  in  the  distance,  not  un 
like  a  row  of  large  hay  cocks.  These  traverses  served  a 
double  purpose — for  beside  covering  the  cannoniers  from  a 
lateral  fire,  these  huge  bulks  of  sand  of  fifteen  to  twenty 
feet  in  depth,  are  the  ponderous  roofs  resting  on  an  adequate 
frame  work,  which  also  served  as  the  internal  boundary  of 
Fisher's  celebrated  bomb-proofs.  From  this  it  will  be  seen 
the  Fort  was  not  only  a  strong  work  against  an  external 
foe,  but  that  it  was  abundantly  furnished  with  internal  de 
fences.  It  will  explain  why  that  of  the  15th  of  January  was 
perhaps,  the  most  severely  contested  battle  of  the  war.  Our 
occupation  of  the  fort,  was  plainly  not  equivalent  to  its  pos 
session  ;  at  least,  till  we  had  overpowered  the  garrison.  With 
a  less  determined  force,  after  gaining  the  enclosure,  the  ques 
tion  might  have  risen,  "  Which  party  is  bagged  ? "  After 
contending  long  to  pass  the  crest  of  the  parapet,  we  entered 
to  find  every  bomb-proof  a  battery  of  belligerent  muskets, 
and  every  traverse  a  bristling  breastwok.  Without  indulg 
ing  in  a  doubting  pause,  the  Union  troops  addressed  them 
selves  to  the  duty  before  them ;  to  possess  the  work  by  as 
many  successive  charges — as  there  were  bomb-proofs — unless 
the  endurance  of  the  enemy  should  fail  before. 

The  Richmond  editors,  after  dilating  on  the  "tenability" 
of  the  work,  with  ill  concealed  chagrin  ask,  "Why  did  the 
garrison  surrender  it  ? "  A  pertinent  answer  at  once  suggests 
itself.  "  Because  they  could  not  help  it."  There  were  sev 
eral  untoward  events  which  transpired  and  then  conspired 
against  the  rebel  fort. 

First,  Gen.  Terry's  forces  were  allowed  to  land,  then,  Hoke 
and  Bragg  permitted  us  to  intrench  across  the  Peninsula. 


HISTORY   OF   THE   11TTH   R.    N.    Y.    Y.  173 

Again,  through  rebel  regard  for  the  "Yankee  Armada,"  Gen. 
Ames'  Division  was  suffered  to  approach  within  half  a  mile 
of  the  fort.  Then,  the  rebels  tolerated  the  advance  of  our 
skirmish  line  within  200  yards  during  Saturday  night.  By 
some,  these  adverse  occurences  are  regarded  as  the  result  of 
bad  management  on  the  part  of  the  rebels,  but,  was  not  their 
failure  at  Fisher,  as  elsewhere,  clearly  attributable  to  the  fact 
that  they  had  to  contend  with  a  foe  whose  courage  and  per 
tinacity  are  based  on  an  intelligent  conviction  of  the  justness 
of  his  cause  ? 

The  Navy,  unaided,  could  not  have  taken  the  fort,  while 
the  land  forces,  without  the  co-operation  of  the  former,  would 
have  been  equally  inadequate. — It  is  well  that  in  so  great  an 
achievement,  these  two  defensive  forces  of  the  nation  should 
learn  their  mutual  dependence,  and,  in  the  same  time,  hu 
manly  speaking,  the  omnipotence  of  their  united  efforts. 
The  recollection  of  that  great  victory  is  conservatively  inspi 
ring  and  will  still  more  endear  to  all  genuine  Americans  one 
of  our  most  popular  national  songs. 

"  The  Army  and  Navy  forever, 
Three  cheers  for  the  Red,  White  and  Blue." 

At  the  time  of  the  surrender  on  Sunday  night,  all  three  of 
the  brigades  of  Gen.  Ames'  (2d)  Division  were  within  the 
limits  of  the  fort,  and  had  just  been  re-enforced  by  Col.  Ab 
bott's  brigade,  of  the  1st  Division.  The  demoralizing  effect 
on  the  enemy  of  this  re-enforcement  it  is  supposed,  did  much 
to  procure  the  desired  "cessation  of  hostilities."  It  was  af 
ter  the  arrival  of  the  last  mentioned  brigade,  that  a  force  was 
sent  forward  to  Fort  Buchanan,  at  which  point  Gen.  Whiting 

12 


174  HISTORY   OF  THE   117TH   B.   N.    Y.    V. 

and  Col.  Lamb,  with  several  hundred  of  the  enemy  formally 
surrendered.  These  two  prominent  rebels  had  left  Fort 
Fisher  in  the  expectation  of  making  good  their  retreat  to  the 
opposite  side  of  the  river.  In  this  Floydish  enterprise  they 
were  foiled  by  an  equal  amount  of  discretion  on  the  part  of 
the  Marines,  who  had  anticipated  their  superiors  in  the  chiv- 
alric  exercise  of  "  skedadling." 

Whatever  may  be  said  against  their  fighting  qualities,  their 
work  of  transfer  was  creditably  thorough,  for  Gen.  Whiting 
discovered  to  his  sorrow,  that  they  had  transported  all  the 
means  of  transportation. 

All  the  captured  wounded  rebel  officers,  I  doubt  not,  are 
by  this  time  quite  reconciled  to  that  disappointment,  that  is, 
if  they  are  free  from  apprehensions  of  merited  punishment, 
for  in  hospital,  they,  as  well  as  our  own  wounded  of  the  same 
rank  fare  well,  if  not  sumptuously ;  the  only  distinction  ob 
served  between  them  being  this,  the  wounded  patriot  pays  $7 
per  week,  while  the  rebel's  board  is  gratuitous.  About  3 
o'clock  on  Monday  morning  I  met  the  prisoners  marching  in 
a  body  to  the  rear.  It  was  a  long  procession.  There  were 
some  over  eighteen  hundred  of  them,  and,  in  appearance, 
they  were  the  best  lot  of  Confederate  troops  I  ever  saw. — 
Their  light  step — sprightly  conversation — and  other  indica 
tions  of  a  cheerful  mood,  made  it  difficult  for  one  to  persuade 
himself  that  it  was  a  procession  of  prisoners.  It  resembled 
more  the  "  captives'  exodus."  The  consoling  rebel  theory, 
that  the  fall  of  Fort  Fisher  was  a  "  blessing  in  disguise,"  the 
prisoners  appeared  to  accept  in  advance  as  beautifully  appli 
cable  to  the  garrison. 

As  my  attention  was  considerably  occupied  with  the  loyal 
wounded,  my  recollection  of  the  scenes  at  the  hospital  is 


HISTORY  OF  THE   117TH  R.   N.    Y.   V.  175 

quite  distinct,  and  in  this  connection  it  is  not  easy  to  refrain 
from  a  more  particular  reference  to  the  sufferers.  Lieut.  Col. 
Myers  of  the  117th,  who  commanded  his  Regiment,  was  se 
verely  wounded  ;  so  also  were  Major  Bagg,  and  Capt.  A.  E. 
Smith,  of  the  same  Regiment.  The  last  named  was  aid  to 
Gen.  Terry.  Capt.  Magill  and  Lieut.  Fairbanks  of  the  same- 
organization,  who  were  in  charge  of  the  advance  skirmish 
line,  both  entered  the  fort  and  were  both  severely  wounded, 
late  in  the  engagement.  The  Captain's  wound  was  so  severe^ 
as  to  necessitate  amputation  of  the  left  thigh.  Capt.  John 
T.  Thomas  was  instantly  killed  after  entering  the  work.. 
Many  a  private  soldier  there  laid  down  his  life  for  his  country.. 

Col.  Smith,  of  the  112th  N.  Y.  Yols.,  was  mortally  wound 
ed.  He  was  low  and  exceedingly  feeble,  conversed  very 
little,  and  with  difficulty.  On  the  second  day  after  the  battle 
— the  day  of  his  death — he  revived  temporarily,  and  with 
much  earnestness  inquired,  "  Do  we  still  hold  the  fort?" 
He  was  ^a  prominent  lawyer  from  Chautauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.,, 
and  an  influential  member  in  society. 

The  142d  Regiment  under  command  of  Col.  Barney,  lost- 
several  officers. 

Nearly  every  one  of  Gen.  Ames'  staff  was  wounded,  among 
them  was  Capt.  Dawson,  of  the  85th  Regiment,  Penn.  Yols.  an. 
amiable  and  promising  young  man.  His  wound  was  mortal. 

Gen.  Curtis,  of  the  1st  Brigade  received  a  wound  in  the 
forehead  from  a  fragment  of  shell.  It  resulted  in  the  loss  of 
one  eye,  and  gave  rise  to  severe  bodily  symptoms. 

Gen.  Pennypacker,  commanding  2nd  Brigade,  was  also  se 
riously  wounded,  but  ultimately  recovered. 

Col.  Bell,  of  a  New  Hampshire  Regiment,  and  in  command, 
of  the  3rd  Brigade,  was  killed.  He  was  unassuming  and 


176  HISTORY  OF  THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.   V. 

genial  in  disposition — a  gentleman  and  a  scholar.  A  lawyer 
by  profession,  and  in  the  army  an  efficient  officer. — His  well 
known  popularity  was  the  effect  of  natural  and  obvious 
causes. " 

EXPLOSION   OF  THE  MAGAZINE. 

"  Early  on  Monday  morning  I  was  called  from  the  hospital 
to  Pilotville,  wMcli  was  not  far  in  rear  of  the  fort,  to  admin 
ister  to  a  wounded  officer  who  had  been  borne  thither,  near 
the  close  of  the  engagement.  This  duty  performed,  it  was 
daybreak.  When  about  leaving,  an  associate  surgeon  pro 
posed  a  brief  visit  to  the  fort.  As  the  tide  was  setting  in 
that  direction,  and  as  I  was  not  without  a  natural  curiosity  to 
view  the  scene  of  that  memorable  conflict,  I  accepted  his  in 
vitation,  when  we  walked  Fort-ward.  We  had  advanced  only 
a  few  yards  when  we  were  joined  by  Corporal  George  H. 
King  of  Co.  G-.  of  117th  Regiment,  who  said  he  was  going 
to  the  battle  field  for  the  purpose  of  recovering  the 'bodies  of 
.some  of  his  fallen  comrades.  He  appeared  to  be  actuated  by 
the  laudable  motive  of  procuring  for  the  remains  of  his  de 
parted  friends  as  formal  and  decent  a  burial  as  could  be  afford- 
«ed  in  the  midst  of  such  surroundings. 

We  soon  arrived  at  the  space  over  which  the  charge  was 
made,  when  we  encountered  that  most  unnatural  and  shock 
ing  sight — a  corpse  on  the  battle-field.  There  is  no  object, 
the  sight  of  which  is  more  impressive  than  that  of  the  dwell 
ing  of  the  human  soul,  left  tenantless  and  desolate.  It  is  so, 
-even  after  its  unsightliness  has  been  relieved  by  the  amenities 
of  domestic  affection  and  funereal  propriety :  but,  to  see  the 
body,  which  with  all,  is  the  object  of  the  most  assiduous  care, 
lying  prone  in:the  dust,  deserted,  unsheltered  and  abandoned, 


HISTORY   OF  THE   117TH  E.   N.    Y.    V.  177 

amid  the  commonest  inanimate  objects,  and  recognize  it  as 
the  form  of  a  beloved  friend,  the  sweet  sound  of  whose 
voice  has  scarcely  died  in  your  ear,  and  if  the  incongruity  of 
the  sight  do  not  provoke  a  shudder,  thenceforth  doubt  whether 
you  deserve  to  be  called  "man."  Yet,  thus  does  "Grim 
visaged  War"  delight  to  outrage  human  sensibility.  He 
tramples  under  foot,  without  remorse,  the  bodies  of  the  slain, 
and  rarely  deigns  a  burial,  except  when  he  can  render  the 
interment  more  shocking  than  neglect. 

"We  entered  by  the  sally-port  which  was  at  the  river  ex 
tremity  of  the  fortification.  Within,  the  most  noticeable 
feature  was  confusion.  A  few  paces  from  the  entrance  were 
three  light  brass  field-pieces  which  had  been  used  by  the 
enemy.  Several  infantry  soldiers  stood  about  amusing  them 
selves  in  a  critical  examination  of  them.  We  were  just 
passing  the  group,  when  one  of  the  party  carelessly  pulled  the 
lanyard  of  one  of  the  guns,  discharging  it ;  the  shot  went 
screeching  over  the  inclosure  and  skimmed  off  seaward.  The 
meddlesome  soldier  who  displaced  it,  on  being  called  to  ac 
count  by  the  Commanding  officer,  with  an  innocent  air  replied, 
"  I  did  not  know  it  was  loaded."  Advancing,  the  marks  of 
the  recent  military  tornado  increased.  Every  object  about, 
and  even  the  earth  gave  evidence  of  having  suffered  violence ; 
here  and  there  were  slight  excavations  made  by  the  skipping 
fragments  of  shells ;  frequent  too,  were  those  cellar-like  pits 
where  the  huge  shell  had  plunged  and  exploded  in  a  thousand 
driving  fragments.  Broken  muskets  lay  about  promiscuously, 
but,  sadder  still  there  too,  in  blue  and  gray,  lay  the  mutilated 
forms  of  the  combatants. 

The  inclosure   and   vicinity  were   populous.      Many   of 
the  enemy's  wounded  were  still  there.     There  were  two  regi- 


178  HISTORY  OP  THE   117TH  R.   N.    Y.   V. 

ments  on  guard  in  the  fort.  A  number  of  those  who  had 
been  on  duty  for  the  night,  were  now  sleeping,  to  recover  from 
the  fatigue  of  the  evening's  conflict  and  the  night's  vigil. 
Some  were  standing  about  in  groups,  discussing  the  incidents 
of  the  battle,  while  scores  more  from  other  regiments  and 
others  of  the  navy,  were  leisurely  yet  curiously  strolling  in 
every  direction  in  pursuit  of  relics  or  valuables. 

Some  entered  the  bomb-proofs,  rummaged  freely  among 
the  goods  and  rubbish  within,  and  emerged  ever  and  anon 
to  examine  by  the  light,  the  several  articles  they  had  thus 
"confiscated." 

Others,  more  eager  arid  less  prudent,  penetrated  with  lighted 
tapers  to  the  innermost  recesses  of  these  artificial  caverns. 
The  impropriety  of  such  a  course  will  be  obvious  to  those 
who  are  reminded  that  each  alternate  bomb-proof  was  a  mag 
azine,  supplying  two  guns  on  either  side. 

We  walked  by  way  of  the  main  magazine.  Externally  it 
was  an  immense  mound  of  sand,  internally  it  was  divided  into 
spacious  apartments,  containing  great  quantities  and  different 
kinds  of  ammunition.  Hard  by,  and  near  the  entrance  lay  a 
great  many  of  the  rebel  wounded,  and,  only  a  few  steps  dis 
tant,  and  in  other  parts  of  the  fort,  fires  which  had  been 
built  for  the  comfort  of  the  night  guard,  were  still  burning. 
This  was  a  means  of  physical  comfort  which  the  prisoners 
said,  for  prudential  reasons,  had  never  before  been  allowed. 
It  is  probable  we  might  have  lingered  there  had  not  the 
Corporal,  just  then  proposed  a  visit  to  the  outer  slope  of  the 
embankment,  where  several  of  his  comrades  fell  in  making 
the  assault.  In  proceeding  in  compliance  with  the  corporal's 
wish,  a  corpse  lay  in  our  way,  every  few  steps,  and  in  all 
imaginable  attitudes.  We  ascended  the  inner  slope,  and,  on 


HISTORY  OP  THE   117TH  R.   N.    Y.   V.  179 

approaching  the  crest  of  the  embankment,  we  examined  one 
of  the  heavy  guns,  which  had  been  the  pride  and  confidence 
of  the  garrison.  It  had  been  broken  and  dismantled  by  a 
heavy  shot  from  the  Navy.  One  trunnion  was  broken,  and  it 
seemed  poising,  and  about  to  tumble  down  the  declivity. 
Beside  it,  in  an  angle  of  this  gun-bed,  sitting  on  the  ground 
reclining  against  the  bank,  was  the  corpse  of  a  rebel  soldier. 
On  the  knee,  set  a  tin  platter  on  which  were  a  small  quantity 
of  hominy  and  a  morsel  of  meat ;  the  hand,  lying  partly  on 
the  platter,  held  a  sheet-iron  spoon.  The  head,  reclining 
against  the  bank,  left  the  pale  cold  face  shockingly  conspicu 
ous.  A  fragment  of  shell  had  penetrated  the  brain,  and 
killed  him  instantly. 

From  the  summit  of  the  embankment  a  number  of  lifeless 
bodies  could  be  seen,  lying  promiscuously  along  the  slope. 
Before  us  -with  head  downward,  lay  a  corpse  which  seemed 
free  from  any  marks  of  violence.  From  face  to  feet  there 
appeared  neither  wound  nor  blood  spot.  Just  beyond,  and 
below  it,  lay  a  body  which  I  recognized  as  that  of  H.  a  mem 
ber  of  the  117th  Regiment.  I  approached  it,  when  looking 
upward  from  this  new  stand  point,  I  discovered  the  fatal 
wound  of  the  former  corpse.  A  shell  or  fragment  had  swept 
away  the  top  of  the  head.  Posture  and  gravitation  had  fa 
vored  the  escape  of  the  brain  which  with  all  attending  moisture 
had  been  absorbed  by  the  thirsty  soil ;  the  whole  inner  surface 
of  the  skull  was  exposed  and  already  entirely  dry.  Similar 
scenes  were  not  uncommon.  That  morning  these  nobly 
fallen  would  have  been  tenderly  buried,  and  their  rest 
ing  places  would  have  been  marked,  but  for  the  affecting 
casualty  which  speedily  followed.  I  was  on  the  outer  slope 
and  below  the  level  of  the  undulating  crest  of  the  fort.  My 


180  HISTORY   OF  THE   117TH   R.    N.   Y.   V. 

companions  were  lingering  above,  surveying  the  interior  of 
the  work,  when  I  was  startled  by  a  deep  explosive  sound  at 
tended  by  a  sensible  quaking  of  the  earth.  I  fell  simultane 
ously,  when  on  looking  in  the  direction  of  the  sound,  I  beheld 
an  immense  shaft  of  earth  and  rubbish,  in  outline  not  unlike 
a  great  water  spout  rising  as  it  were,  to  the  very  clouds. 

I  clearly  comprehended  the  nature  of  the  occurrence  and 
before  I  could  consider  my  relative  peril  I  found  myself  the 
victim  of  the  most  intense  violence.  I  felt  myself  as  an  atom 
amid  the  crash  of  worlds.  Then  came  a  distressing  sense  of 
suffocation  with  a  clear  conviction  that  my  immediate  death 
was  inevitable.  There  was  not  only  the  extinguishment  of 
every  glimmer  of  hope,  but  a  certainty  that  I  could  not 
survive  this  commotion,  or  be  rescued  from  the  jaws  of  death. 
I  felt  the  grave  rudely  closing  round  me,  and  realized  the 
horrors  of  being  buried  alive.  Then  followed  the  pangs  of 
severing  earthly  ties.  Then  a  temporary  lull  in  the  descent 
of  the  debris.  Instinctively  I  thrust  out  a  hand — as  the  hand 
gained  the  external  air — "  extended  hope."  Again  was  I 
depressed  and  overwhelmed  by  a  fresh  fall  of  sand  and  rub 
bish,  another  agony  of  suspense,  another  struggle  for  life  and 
I  gained  the  atmosphere.  The  danger  had  passed,  and  I  was 
still  alive.  On  realizing  my  deliverance  I  experienced  the 
most  pleasurable,  blissful  emotions  of  gratitude.  That  tran 
sient  emotion  was  the  highest  state  of  happiness  I  ever  attained. 

This  was  succeeded  by  a  more  sordid  but  not  less  natural 
impulse  to  confirm  the  advantage  I  had  so  Providentially 
gained.  Action  was  agreeable  with  this  motive.  With  one 
shoulder  fractured,  the  arm  hanging  useless,  I  managed  to 
extricate  myself  and  in  an  extremely  bad  plight,  I  set  out 
from  the  fort  with  a  singleness  of  purpose,  which  under  cir- 


HISTORY   OF   THE   117TH   R.   N.    Y.    V.  181 

cumstances  less  serious,  might  have  been  amusing.  Descend 
ing  the  slope  I  passed  through  an  aperture  in  the  stockade 
and  walked  rapidly  over  the  plain.  I  had  gone  some  ten 
rods,  up  to  which  time  I  had  had  no  cognisance  of  another 
person  in  the  world  except  myself,  and  the  members  of  my 
household ;  then  I  recovered  my  sense  of  outer  social  rela 
tions.  The  next  thought  was  of  my  companions,  the  Doctor 
and  the  Corporal.  To  seek  them  was  the  next  impulse,  which 
I  would  have  obeyed  irrespective  of  peril.  I  rapidly  retraced 
my  steps.  On  approaching  the  spot  I  saw  a  fragment  of  the 
frame-work  of  the  magazine,  a  piece  of  timber  some  ten 
inches  square,  and  perhaps  fourteen  feet  long.  It  had  been 
up  high  in  the  air  and  descended  with  the  sand,  or  had  been 
thrown  off  horizontally  over  the  wall.  On  my  right,  lay  a 
quivering  face,  all  that  was  visible  of  a  victim.  All  the 
bodies  that  lay  along  the  descent,  before  the  explosion  had 
been  suddenly  buried  in  many  a  nameless  unmarked  grave, 
while  the  surface  of  that  general  grave-yard  was  already  dot 
ted  with  the  mutilated  members  of  scores  of  new  victims. 

A  step  or  two  in  advance,  was  the  body  of  a  Naval  Officer, 
which  had  evidently  been  thrown  from  within  the  inclosure , 
it  had  been  in  the  air  and  falling,  doubled  forward  the  head 
and  feet  striking  the  earth  at  the  same  time,  the  accompany 
ing  sand  had  fixed  it  in  this  attitude. 

Proceeding,  I  found  the  Doctor.  His  lower  limbs  both  in 
jured,  one  thigh  being  badly  fractured.  The  shock  to  his 
system  had  been  exceedingly  severe.  Corporal  King  was  not 
to  be  seen.  His  body  was  found  by  his  friends  the  same 
day.  He  was  an  excellent  young  man,  esteemed  and  beloved 
by  his  numerous  friends  in  the  regiment  and  also  in  his  native 
town. 


182  HISTORY  OF  THE  117TH  R.   N.    Y.   V. 

On  returning  to  the  edge  of  the  parapet,  which  over  looked 
the  interior  of  the  fort,  what  a  sight  presented  !  The  great 
mound  of  sand  which  had  been  the  magazine  had  disappeared. 
A  wide  excavation  marked  the  spot  where  it  had  stood.  The 
incredible  quantity  of  sand  which  once  formed  the  magazine, 
now  lay  spread  out  over  a  vast  area.  It  had  been  distributed 
so  evenly,  and  had  so  softened  the  angles  of  various  objects 
on  which  it  had  fallen  as  to"  suggest  the  idea  of  a  natural 
phenomenon.  The  victims  of  the  terrible  casualty  were  seen 
here  and  there,  while  over  all,  the  black  smoke  had  descended, 
rendering  the  scene  the  most  complete  picture  of  desola 
tion,  I  ever  beheld.  The  casualties  from  the  explosion  num 
bered  some  over  two  hundred.  Numbers  who  were  sleeping 
at  the  time,  were  crushed  beneath  the  shivered  timbers  and 
exploded  shell,  or  were  overwhelmed  and  suffocated  by  the 
sand. 

The  question, "  By  whom,  at  what  point,  and  by  what  means 
was  the  magazine  ignited  ?  "  has  not  been  conclusively  answered. 
The  enemy  may  have  provided  for  the  destruction  of  the 
magazine  by  causing  this  result  to  follow  the  incautious  open 
ing  of  a  door  leading  to  its  chambers.  It  was  said,  he  pos 
sessed  the  facilities  for  firing  it  by  means  of  an  isolated  wire 
which  extended  from  a  fort  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river, 
to  the  magazine.  That  the  enemy  with  a  little  forethought 
could  have  effected  it  there  is  no  doubt ;  that  they  possessed 
the  moral  qualifications  for  such  a  deed  is  also  certain,  and 
that  prudent  men  apprehended  a  terrible  explosion  as  the  con 
sequence  of  the  culpable  recklessness  of  a  dozen  or  two  of  ir 
responsible  visitors  is  also,  a  well  known  fact.  The  most 
favorable  decision  will  leave  it  still  an  unmitigated  and  mor 
tifying  disaster." 


HISTORY  OF  THE  117TH  R.   N.    Y.   V.  183 


CHAPTER    XY. 

CAPTURE  OF  WILMINGTON   AND   MARCH  NORTH 
WARD  TO  KEENANSVILLE. 

Transfer  of  the  Wounded  to  the  Transports. — Troops  Recruit  and  Reform. — 
Arrival  of  Gen.  Schofield. — Advance  on  Wilmington. —  Enter  and  occupy  the 
town  on  the  22d  of  February. — Street  scenes. — Union  Prisoners. — Immediate 
defences  of  the  Town. — Incidents. — Preparation  for  an  Advance. — Schofield. — 
Terry. — Sherman. — The  Column  moves  March  15th. — Geographical,  Social 
and  Political  features  of  that  Region. — Incidents  of  the  March. — On  the  fourth 
day  approach  Keenansville. 

THE  physical  suffering,  which  follows  a  battle,  is  severe  un 
der  the  most  favorable  circumstances  ;  but  the  situation  at 
Fort  Fisher,  immediately  after  the  conflict,  was  peculiarly 
unfavorable  for  the  comfort  of  the  wounded.  Hospital  con 
veniences  were  meagre  ;  of  food  there  was  none  except  what 
had  been  landed  from  the  transports  under  difficulties. 

No  wharf  being  available,  the  only  means  of  transferring 
the  wounded  to  hospital  ships,  was  by  small  boats  from  the 
beach.  It  was  painful  to  witness  the  transfer.  Many  of  them 
were  laboring  under  the  most  serious  injuries.  Some  had 
suffered  amputation  of  arms  or  legs.  The  most  urgent  need 
of  all,  'was  perfect  quiet  and  repose.  Instead  of  this,  they 
were  subjected  to  the  jostling  consequent  on  a  couple  of  miles 
of  hand  carriage.  At  the  beach  they  had  to  be  passed  to  the 
boat  in  the  short  interval  which  occurred  between  the  arrival 
of  the  successive  waves.  The  next  instant  the  boat,  across 


184  HISTORY  OP  THE  117TH   E.   N.    Y.   V. 

which  the  patients  lay,  was  suddenly  lifted  several  feet  by 
the  incoming  surf,  which,  breaking,  rarely  failed  to  wet  the 
party ;  then  after  an  exciting  passage  to  the  ship,  the  stretch 
ers,  on  which  the  poor  fellows  seemed  to  lie  quite  insecurely, 
were  hoisted,  after  the  manner  of  bales  of  merchandize,  about 
thirty  feet  to  the  deck.  The  violence  to  which  they  were 
thus  subjected,  to  say  nothing  of  the  effects  of  fear,  naturally 
excited  by  such  handling,  must  have  been  injurious.  Yet 
these  ills  were  preferable  to  a  longer  endurance  of  present 
privations. 

Fully  conscious  of  his  inability  to  longer  exclude  Admiral 
Porter's  fleet  from  the  mouth  of  the  Cape  Fear  River,  the 
enemy  abandoned  all  the  defenses  below  Fort  Anderson,  on 
Monday,  the  day  after  the  fall  of  Fort  Fisher,  making  an  am 
ple  announcement  of  the  withdrawal  of  his  rear  guard  from 
Fort  Caswell,  by  the  explosion  of  its  magazine,  the  report  of 
which  was  heard  distinctly,  at  the  distance  of  thirty  miles. 
While  the  fleet  was  clearing  the  channel  and  intrepidly 
moving  up  the  river,  Gen.  Terry's  force  was  recruiting  and 
reforming,  and  the  23d  Corps,  (Gen.  Schofield,)  which  had 
been  relieved  by  the  dispersion  of  Hood's  army,  arrived  and 
landed  on  Federal  Point,  to  join  the  advance  on  Wilmington. 

On  his  arrival,  Gen.  Schofield  took  command,  and  at  once 
began  to  move  against  the  city. 

The  117th  Regiment,  with  the  rest  of  the  Brigade,  having 
been  on  duty  at  Smithville  for  a  week  or  more,  advanced  up  the 
river  on  the  west  bank.  The  regiment  crossed  the  river  two 
or  three  times  in  several  days,  was  engaged  in  an  occasional 
skirmish,  but  encountered  nothing  of  a  threatening  character, 
till  in  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Anderson,  when  it  enjoyed  a  fair 
prospect  for  another  contest .  The  enemy,  however,  on  being 


HISTORY   OF   THE   117TH   B.    N.    Y.    V.  185 

pressed,  abandoned  the  fort  and  retreated.  The  fort  was  oc 
cupied  on  the  19th.  There  was  some  fighting  on  the  20th  and 
21st.  The  loss  from  the  2d  Division,  10th  Corps,  was  not 
heavy,  though  it  participated  quite  freely  in  a  lively  skirmish. 
The  following  may  he  mentioned  as  a  remarkable  escape  : 

While  Gen.  Ames  and  staff  were  inspecting  the  rebel  lines, 
a  battery  opened  directly  before  them,  sending  several  shots 
in  the  midst  of  the  party.  A  solid  shot  struck  the  horse  of 
Captain  Granger,  at  the  shoulder  directly  in  front  of  the  sad 
dle  pad,  passing  through  close  up  under  the  saddle,  emerging 
at  the  hip  of  the  opposite  side,  having  traversed  the  horse's 
body  diagonally  from  shoulder  to  hip.  The  Captain  was  un 
hurt. 

The  regiment  entered  Wilmington,  with  the  main  force,  on 
the  anniversary  of  Washington's  birth-day.  As  the  result  of 
another  victory,  the  occupation  of  the  town  was  a  gratifying 
event.  In  many  other  particulars  also,  it  was  interesting. 
The  government  store  houses,  with  their  contents,  had  been 
fired  and  were  still  burning.  The  hostile  citizens  had  nearly 
all  departed,  leaving  their  dwellings  tenantless.  A  few  of 
them,  however,  perhaps  equally  disloyal,  but  more  attached 
to  their  possessions,  had  determined  to  brave  it  out.  Such 
were  always  the  first  to  call  on  the  commanding  officer  and 
demand  a  guard  over  their  premises.  Such  examples  of 
effrontery  were  of  frequent  occurrence,  wherever  the  Union 
army  advanced.  It  is  a  prominent  rebel  trait. 

The  threatening  raids  which  had  recently  been  made  into 
the  interior,  from  our  line  about  Richmond,  the  fear  of  simi 
lar  visitations  by  Sherman's  cavalry,  and  the  feeling  of  secu 
rity  inspired  by  the  reputation  of  Fort  Fisher,  had  made  Wil 
mington  a  sort  of  prisoners'  depot.  On  the  fall  of  the  fort, 


186  HISTORY   OF  THE  117TH    R.   N.    Y.    V. 

many  of  them  had  been  returned  inland,  but  probably  for 
want  of  transportation,  several  hundred  had  been  suffered  to 
remain  till  just  prior  to  the  fall  of  the  city,  when  all  such  as 
could  be  made  to  walk,  were  pushed  toward  the  interior.  At 
this  stage  the  rebel  commander  communicated  to  Gen.  Scho- 
field  a  wish  to  exchange  them.  The  latter,  interpreting  the 
proposal  as  an  admission  of  weakness,  declined  the  offer,  and 
resolved  to  obtain  the  prisoners  on  his  own  terms.  This  was 
effected,  as  the  city  fell  before  the  enemy  could  remove  all 
the  prisoners.  Accordingly,  there  awaited  us  a  more  abhor 
rent  and  humiliating  manifestation  of  confederate  depravity, 
than  any  we  had  before  seen. 

I  had  heard  and  read  of  the  de-humanizing  effects  of  rebel 
cruelty.  I  had  seen  them  set  forth  in  the  N.  Y.  pictorials  ; 
but  all  these  could  not  fortify  a  person  against  the  shock 
which  must  follow  the  first  sight  of  a  victim.  Never  shall  I 
forget  the  feeling  of  mingled  surprise,  pity,  disgust  and  indig 
nation  I  experienced  on  meeting  some  three  or  four  of  these 
wretched  creatures.  Such  marks  of  barbarism  are  infinitely 
more  striking  and  painful  to  witness  than  those  of  death 
itself.  Physically,  these  men  were  scarcely  more  than  skele 
tons.  But  the  most  startling  transformation,  appeared  in  the 
expression  of  the  face,  and  in  the  manner.  On  looking  at 
the  face,  one  would  wonder  that  a  visage  so  frightfully  hag 
gard  and  ghastly,  should  give  signs  of  life.  The  next  most 
remarkable  feature,  was  its  shocking  brutality.  Manhood 
seemed  extinguished.  In  some  faces  you  looked  in  vain  for  a 
single  reflection  of  the  human  soul ;  one  felt  to  weep  over 
the  poor  wreck  of  humanity,  this  mere  thing  ^  this  worse  than 
corpse.  Dementia  or  idiocy  had  abolished  all  sense  of  decency, 
and  some  seemed  scarcely  to  discriminate  between  men  and 


HISTORY   OF   THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V.  187 

inanimate  objects.  Such  was  the  physical  and  moral  transfor 
mation  which  followed  a  state  of  captivity  in  the  hands  of  those 
who  are  capable  of  rebelling  against  a  Republican  form  of  gov 
ernment.  They  subjected  their  prisoners,  their  own  country 
men,  to  the  dependence  of  beasts,  and  then  neglected  them 
with  a  devilish  assiduity  ;  thus  anticipating  the  savage  in  the 
discovery  of  the  lowest  amount  of  life  consistent  with  a  bare 
existence. 

The  city  of  Wilmington  is  favorably  located,  well  arranged, 
and  substantially  built.     Many  of  its  dwellings  are  ample, 
and  a  few  make  some  pretension  to  elegance.     So  many  of 
them  were  deserted,  that  the  various  Head-quarters   were 
established  and  maintained  in  unusual  style,  without  causing 
present  inconvenience  to  the  owners  of  the  premises.     The 
immediate  defenses  of  the  city  were  ingenious,  yet  simple.    At 
an    average    distance    of  a    mile,    the    town   is    encircled 
by  a  ravine.      This  ravine   had  been   supplied  with  water 
by  an  obstruction  of  the  river,  and  its  consequent  reflux. 
The  required  depth  of  the  water,  in  this  capacious  ditch,  had 
been  adjusted  and  was  maintained  in  its  several  sections  by  a 
series  of   dams.     The  eligible  range  within,   was   provided 
with  a  line  of  rifle-pits,  and  a  corresponding  line  of  forts  and 
redoubts,  which  together  commanded  the  exterior  field.     It 
was  indeed  an  admirable  arrangement,  but  the  city  was  so 
near  that  the  garrison  could  not  have  saved  it  from  the  artil 
lery  of  the  besiegers.     Its  chief  advantage  to  the  besieged, 
was  the  privilege  of  a  more  deliberate  retreat.     The  tranquil- 
izing  effect  it  must  have  exerted  for  a  long  time,  on  women 
and  children,  and  timid  men,  ought  not  to  be  forgotten. 

Commercially  as  well  militarily,  the  business  of  the  city 
was  conducted  by  the  Victors . 


188  HISTORY   OF  THE  117TH   R.   N.    Y.    V. 

River  communication  was  established  with  Fayetteville, 
immediately  on  the  arrival  of  Gen.  Sherman  at  that  place. 
Several  days  prior,  Gen.  Schofield  left  Wilmington  for  Golds- 
boro,  moving  in  conjunction  with  a  force  from  Newbern. 

The  117th  Regiment,  in  its  place  in  the  brigade  lay  on  the 
Newbern  Road  just  without  the  fortification  above  described. 
It  was  employed  chiefly  in  picket  duty.  The  labor  was  light 
and  the  boys  enjoyed  themselves  well. 

The  health  of  the  troops  was  not  good,  but  the  sickness  at 
first  was  of  a  mild  type.  There  was  a  good  deal  of  ague 
and  some  typhoid  fever.  The  surgeons  and  nurses  were  oc 
cupied  and  in  many  cases  overworked  in  discharging  their 
duties  to  the  prisoners.  Many  of  these  dying  men  had  been 
sent  North,  but  others  were  straggling  in  from  the  interior 
almost  daily,  and  more  arrived  with  every  boat  from  Fayette- 
ville. 

The  care  of  the  prisoners  induced  disease  among  the  at 
tending  surgeons  and  nurses.  Four  surgeons  lost  their  lives 
by  a  malignant  type  of  fever  which  seemed  traceable  to  that 
source. 

The  population  of  the  town  increased  very  rapidly  by  the 
return  of  its  late  citizens,  and  the  influx  of  freedmen. 

On  the  15th  day  of  March,  Gen.  Terry's  force  left  Wil 
mington,  moving  Northward  in  conjunction  with  Gen.  Sher 
man,  whose  advance  set  out  from  Fayetteville  on  the  same 
date. 

When  these  troops  reduced  Fort  Fisher  and  its  supporting 
fortifications,  they  were  of  course  elated  as  they  well  might 
be.  They  had  penetrated  the  shell  of  the  Confederate  ovoid, 
at  the  point  of  its  greatest  convexity,  and  now  they  were 
about  to  move  homeward  by  the  interior.  How  they  had 


HISTORY  OF  THE  117TH  E.   N.    Y.   V.  189 

longed  for  this  day.  How  often,  when  going  up  or  down  the 
coast,  or,  while  on  Folly  Island,  had  the  boys  remarked  one 
to  another,  "  Let  us  land  yonder  and  go  across."  The  irony 
of  the  expression  was  well  understood,  and  generally  called 
forth  the  answer,  "  It  will  be  a  long  time  first."  But  that 
glad  day  had  come.  They  were  now  to  "invade"  and  trav 
erse  the  enemy's  territory. 

"We  accorded  the  Southern  people  some  credit  for  the  ap 
pearance  of  Wilmington,  but  on  viewing  the  surroundings, 
it  becomes  evident  that  the  town  is  not  of  local  origin,  but  a 
product  of  general  commerce. 

If  that  people,  with  the  aid  of  navigation,  are  capable  of 
developing  and  concentrating  the  blessings  of  commerce,, 
they  also  surpass  every  other  in  the  power  of  restraining  and 
limiting  its  manifestations.  In  less  than  an  hour,  at  a  mod 
erate  rate  of  travel,  the  column  marched  from  the  midst  of 
the  city's  hum  to  the  shadowy  aisles  of  the  deep  dark  forest^ 
As  the  troops  wound  along  through  this  desert  region,  they 
were  impressed  with  the  proximity  of  solitude  and  southern, 
civilization  ? 

The  direction  of  the  march  was  north  and  parallel  with 
the  Wilmington  and  Weldon  Eailroad.  The  first  day,  made; 
only  seven  miles,  not  having  set  out  till  4  o'clock,  P.  M.  On 
the  morning  of  the  second  day,  crossed  the  east  branch  of  the 
Cape  Fear  River  on  pontoons.  The  weather  was  spring-like 
being  of  the  temperature  of  New  York  May,  but  though  the 
air  was  genial  to  the  senses,  it  was  oppressively  close  to  pe^ 
destrians. 

The  eastern  portion  of  the  State,  to  the  distance  of  forty 
or  fifty  miles  from  the  coast,  is  low,  level  and  marshy ;  accord 
ingly  on  the  second  day  the  troops  encountered  just  such  an 
13 


190  HISTORY  OF  THE  117TH  R%  N.   Y.   V. 

obstacle  as  might  be  expected  to  result  from  a  depressed  sur 
face,  and  a  low  state  of  popular  enterprise.  It  was  near 
evening  when  word  was  passed  from  the  head  of  the  column 
for  the  men  to  prepare  tQ  wade. 

A  narrow  swamp  here  lay  across  the  road.  It  was  filled 
with  turbid,  stagnant  water.  The  road,  being  composed  of 
moist  sand,  was  at  best  only  a  groove  or  ditch,  and  here,  on 
.either  side  of  the  swamp  for  several  rods  it  was  filled  with 
water.  The  water  in  the  deepest  place  was  about  waist  deep. 
The  civilian  can  hardly  appreciate  the  perplexities  of  the  sit 
uation.  The  men  were  all  accoutred  with  muskets,  cartridge 
boxes,  knapsacks,  haversacks,  &c.,  &c.,  and,  besides,  every 
man  was  thoroughly  tired. 

On  viewing  the  prospect,  some  began  to  re-arrange  their 
burdens,  the  better  to  maintain  them  above  the  water,  while 
others  went  to  the  right  or  left  in  search  of  an  end  to  the 
marsh,  but  generally  returned  disappointed ;  those  enterpris 
ing  boys  soon  got  the  name  of  "  flankers."  It  was  the  design 
of  the  commanders  that  the  column  should  continue  unbroken, 
during  its  passage  of  these  swamp  holes,  but  it  seemed  quite 
out  of  the  question  to  do  so.  There  were  generally  some 
signs  of  impatience  on  reaching  these  barriers,  but  the  cross 
ing  was  always  made  with  some  extra  splashing,  and  a  good 
deal  of  shouting  and  laughter.  None  of  these  swamps  were 
bridged,  though  one  or  two  of  them  which  had  become  im 
passable  for  vehicles,  on  account  of  the  depth  of  mud,  had 
been  provided  with  an  artificial  bottom  in  the  shape  of  a 
section  of  corduroy.  But  woe  to  the  unlucky  teamster  who 
should  drive  off  of  this  invisible  submerged  bridge.  The 
supply  teams  on  two  or  three  occasions  were  annoyingly  de 
tained  by  these  mishaps. 


HISTORY  ON  THE  117TH  R.   N.   Y.   V.  191 

The  soil  was  light  and  sandy;  and  during  the  first  three 
days  of  the  march,  artificial  openings  in  the  expanse  of  pine 
woods  were  few  and  far  between,  and  those  few  exhibited 
feeble  and  unrequited  attempts  at  farming. 

The  inhabitants  were  of  the  middle  and  lower  class.  Oc 
casionally  however,  might  be  seen  a  larger  plantation  with 
more  pretentious,  but  still  declining  tenements.  Groups  of 
negroes,  were  seen  on  the  larger  premises,  but  most  of 
them  had  evidently  become  thoroughly  "  demoralized  "  by  the 
prevailing  commotion. 

The  leading  citizens  conceded  that  the  prospect  of  the 
confederacy  was  growing  dark.  "  I  suppose,"  said  they, "  that  as 
you  have  taken  Fort  Fisher,  you  will  overrun  us  down  here, 
but  you  never  got  the  better  of  Gen.  Lee.  You'll  have 
enough  to  do  I  reckon  when  you  come  up  with  him." 

The  poor  whites  met  the  troops  with  apparent  satisfaction, 
remarking, "  It  is  all  over  with  the  Confederacy  now.  You've 
got  Fort  Fisher,  they  can't  stopt  you  any  more ;  but  I  dont 
care,  I  was  union  all  the  time,  but  I  did  not  dare  to  say  it." 

The  negroes  were  overjoyed  at  the  sight  of  the  troops,  and 
were  generally  ready  to  fall  in  line.  After  the  third  day,  as 
we  progressed  inland,  we  found  an  obvious  improvement  in 
the  surface  and  soil.  The  face  of  the  country  became  more 
undulating.  Opposing  swamps  grew  less  frequent,  while  an 
improvement  in  the  agricultural  features  was  quite  marked. 
Concurring  with  these  changes  there  were  increasing  indica 
tions  of  a  higher  state  of  society.  There  was  more  physical 
comfort  and  mental  culture,  but  no  increase  of  loyalty.  In 
deed  disloyalty  became  more  manifest. 

This  fact,  again,  indicates  what  must  have  been  disclosed 
even  to  the  "wayfaring  man,"  that  the  late  war  which  so 


192  HISTORY  OP  THE   117TH  R.  N.   Y.   V. 

mercilessly  scourged  the  American  people,  was  nothing  more 
nor  less  than  a  conflict  between  Aristocracy  and  Eepublicanism. 

During  the  last  three  or  four  days  of  the  march,  we  heard 
at  intervals,  on  our  left,  the  sound  of  distant  artillery.  It 
proved  to  have  been  that  which  attended  the  engagement 
between  Johnston  and  Sherman's  advance  ;  first  at  Averys- 
boro  and  latterly  at  Bentonville.  On  the  latter  occasion  the 
union  forces  under  Maj.  Gen.  Slocum  achieved  a  decided  vic 
tory,  the  enemy  being  obliged  to  retreat  precipitately  during 
the  night. 

On  the  morning  of  the  19th,  entered  quite  a  tillable  and 
productive  region,  passing  some  of  the  finest  plantations  in 
the  state.  It  was  difficult  to  restrain  the  depredations  of  the 
negro  troops  as  they  witnessed  again  the  comfort  and  opu 
lence  of  their  late  task-masters.  Several  barns  and  one  or 
two  fine  mansions  were  fired  by  them  in  spite  of  the  vigilance 
of  their  officers. 


HISTORY  OP  THE   117TH  B.    N.    Y.    V.  193 


CHAPTER  XYI. 

Arrival  at  Keenansville.— A  Genial  but  Pungent  Colloquy.— Reach  Coxe'  Bridge 
Crossing. — Arrival  and  passage  of  Sherman's  Column. — Foraging. — A  Loyal 
Dutchman's  Logic. — Terry's  force  retires  to  Faison's  Station, — Remain  there 
about  Three  Weeks. — Wheeler's  Cavalry. — Incidents. — April  9th,  Receive  In 
telligence  of  the  Evacuation  of  Richmond. — Prepare  to  Move. — Removal  of 
the  sick  to  Wilmington.— The  March  toward  Raleigh.— Social  and  Political 
Features  of  the  Interior. 

ABOUT  noon  of  the  fourth  day,  the  column  reached  the  capi 
tal  of  Duplin  County.  The  village  is  called  Keenansville, 
after  one  of  its  P.  Fs.  Though  it  cannot  boast  of  more 
than  two  or  three  hundred  inhabitants,  it  is  a  place  of  some 
local  note,  on  account  of  its  being  the  county  seat,  and  also 
because  of  the  wealth  and  social  eminence  of  its  citizens. 

The  line  of  the  column  was  by  the  left  of  the  village.  The 
brigade  halted,  when  some  two  or  three  of  the  officers  rode 
down  through  the  principal  street.  It  was  a  most  delightful 
spot.  The  streets  were  wide,  and  well  shaded  with  majestic 
oaks,  the  houses  were  ample  and  neat,  the  grounds  spacious 
and  tastily  arranged.  Yet  every  enclosure,  in  some  feature, 
betrayed  evidences  of  neglect. 

The  occupants,  in  many  instances,  were  sitting  on  the 
stoops,  verandahs,  and  balconies,  enjoying  the  shade,  and  at 
the  same  time  inspecting  the  blue-clad  travelers. 

As  a  company  of  three  officers  were  riding  along,  they  ap 
proached  a  residence  whose  magnitude  and  style  rendered  it 


194:  HISTORY  OP  THE    117TH  R.   N.  Y.   V. 

prominent.  Conspicuously  on  the  porch,  sat  four  ladies,  two 
of  whom,  though  otherwise  bareheaded,  were  closely  veiled. 
The  veil  was  evidently  designed  as  a  manifestation  of  con 
tempt  for  the  Union  soldiery.  It  was  on  the  principle  of  the 
adage,  "  the  cat  may  not  look  at  the  queen."  It  suggested  ' 
New  Orleans.  On  seeing  this,  Adjt.  R.,  one  of  the  riding 
party,  proposed  calling  on  them.  The  others  assenting,  the 
trio  halted  at  the  gate,  dismounted  and  proceeded  toward  the 
mansion.  The  instant  the  party  halted,  the  ladies  removed 
and  concealed  their  veils,  which  act  of  itself,  was  sufficient  to 
indicate  the  motive  which  prompted  their  use.  As  the  party 
assended  the  steps,  the  ladies  rose,  greeted  them,  and  extend 
ed  chairs.  The  party  consisted  of  three  young  ladies,  and  an 
amiable  looking  matron  of  perhaps  forty-five  years  of  age. 
The  eldest  of  the  young  ladies,  was  physically  ample,  and  men 
tally  active  and  vivacious.  She  was  very  willing  and  even 
eager  to  lead  in  conversation  on  the  absorbing  topic.  She  was 
apparently  a  member  of  the  household,  and  the  daughter  of 
the  presiding  matron.  A  younger  and  more  reserved  person 
present,  was  a  sister  of  the  former.  The  fourth  was  a  young 
woman,  of  perhaps  twenty-five  years,  tall,  slim,  sharp  featured, 
and  of  a  nervous  and  positive  temperament.  Now  followed  a 
spicy,  pungent  yet  humorous  colloquy.  The  ladies,  except 
perhaps  the  mother,  were'  perfectly  self-possessed,  seeming  to 
enjoy  the  fullest  confidence  in  the  gallantry  of  their  visitors, 
or  in  the  established  magnanimity  of  the  general  government 
toward  its  rebellious  subjects.  Such  obvious  freedom  from 
apprehension,  under  the  circumstances,  could  only  have  been 
the  effect  of  unusual  intelligence  for  that  latitude. 

The  conversation  was  begun  by  the  Adjutant  after  the 
greeting,  with  this  address  : 


HISTORY  OP  THE   117TH  R.   N.   Y.   T.  195 

Adjutant  R.  Ladies,  we  are  happy  to  find  you  so  comfort 
ably  situated  and  so  pleasantly  surrounded,  here  in  the  "Old 
Tar  State,"  after  nearly  four  years  of  bloody  war. 

The  elder  Miss  Keenan.  (With  spirit.)  The  bloody  war 
you  speak  of  has  never  incommoded  us  in  the  least,  Sir,  I  can 
assure  you.  There  are  now  fifty  ladies  from  abroad,  visiting 
our  town.  You  would  suppose  it  to  be  Saratoga. 

Adjt.    Fifty  Ladies !  I  regret  that  you  told  me. 

Miss  K.     Why,  sir  ? 

Adjt.  Well,  Madam,  I  shall  be  very  much  inclined  to  tarry 
awhile. 

Miss  K.  Law,  Sir !  Do  not  incommode  yourself  in  the 
least,  on  our  account. 

Adjt.  What  are  the  favorite  public  amusements  afforded 
by  your  flourishing  town  ? 

Miss  K.  (Ironically.)  Theatre,  Opera,  &c.  Much  the 
same  as  you  have  in  N.  Y.  City. 

Adjt.  What  are  the  more  popular  plays,  now  rendered  at 
your  theatre  ? 

Miss  K.  We  endeavor  in  that  particular,  to  keep  up  with 
the  times. 

Adjt.  It  occurs  to  me  that  the  Confederate  theatre  could, 
with  great  pertinence,  revive  that  old  play  of,  "  Much  ado 
about  nothing." 

Miss  K.  Thank  you,  Barnum  may  play  that  for  the 
Yankees. 

Adjt.  Are  Bragg  and  Hood  enjoying  the  confidence  of 
your  people,  in  these  days  ? 

Miss  K.  Bragg  and  Hood  ! !  I  would  write  "  Retreat "  oa 
their  backs. 


196  HISTORY  OF  THE  117TH  R.   N.   Y.   V. 

Adjt.  You  should  not  be  too  severe.  Remember  it  is  the 
Yankees  they've  got  to  fight. 

Miss  K.  Yankees,  indeed  !  Your  whole  army  is  made  up 
of  Irish,  Dutch  and  Negroes. 

Adjt.  And,  bear  in  mind,  even  at  that,  we  are  defeating 
you.  Now  what  would  you  do,  should  the  Yankee's  come 
down? 

Miss  K.  But  "  Supercede  ! "  "  Supercede  ! ! "  is  the  word 
with  you. 

Adjt.  Is  not  that  precisely  what  common  sense  would  dic 
tate  to  you,  with  regard  to  those  you  have  just  condemned  so 
unqualifiedly,  and  I  suspect,  just  what  you  would  have  done, 
if  you  had  the  material. 

Miss  K.  Material !  you  will  find  that  Gen.  Lee  has  ma 
terial  enough  for  all  of  you. 

Adjt.  Pardon  me,  Ladies,  but  I  cannot  repress  my  gratifi 
cation  on  witnessing  the  degree  of  style  you  maintain  through 
the  war ;  you  are  dressed  almost  as  tastily  as  our  Yankee 
girls. 

Miss  K.  Don't  be  surprised,  Gentlemen,  at  our  appearance, 
for  I  can  assure  you,  we  are  in  our  every  day  attire.  Our 
jewelry  we  sensibly  concealed,  when  we  got  a  presentiment 
that  the  Yankees  were  coming. 

Adjt.  I  see  few  men  about  town,  where  are  all  your 
fathers,  brothers,  uncles,  cousins  and  lovers  ? 

Miss  K.  All  in  the  rebel  army  at  Goldsboro.  There  is 
3tiss  E.,  (pointing  to  the  slim  lady,)  has  five  lovers  in  the  con 
federate  army  to-day. 

Miss  E.  Rather  an  embarrassing  predicament,  do  you  not 
think  so,  sir  ? 


HISTORY  OF  THE  117TH  R.   N.   Y.    V.  197 

Adjt.  It  might  be,  Miss,  in  time  of  peace,  but,  if  they 
are  all  worthy  of  your  fair  hand,  you  may  rest  assured  that 
not  more  than  one  will  get  back  alive. 

Miss  K.  Gentlemen,  have  you  any  Bull  Run  or  Manassas 
men  with  you  ?  I  would  like  to  see  one. 

Adjt.  Ladies,  two  years  is  a  long  interval  to  search  in 
vain  for  military  glory.  Are  you  acquainted  with  Lieutenant 
Fargo  ? 

Ladies  all.  (with  an  expression  of  surprise.)  Of  course 
we  are.  Have  you  seen  him,  Sir  ?  He  is  one  of  our  intimate 
friends.  Say  quickly,  Sir,  where  have  you  seen  him  ? 

Adjt.  There  !  Ladies,  don't  get  excited,  I  only  asked  for 
information. 

Miss  K.  and  Miss  E.  Tell  us,  tell  us,  Sir  !  You  are  so 
provokingly  cool. 

Adjt.  Then  you  are  really  acquainted  with  Lieutenant 
Fargo. 

Ladies.    We  have  told  you  so  already. 

Adjt.    Perhaps  a  beau  of  one  of  these  ladies. 

Miss  K.  But  come,  won't  you  make  haste  and  tell  us 
about  him. 

Adjt.  (With  aggravating  sang"  froid.)  Well,  Ladies,  I 
know  very  little  about  your  friend,  I  never  met  him  but  once. 
It  was  on  the  evening  of  the  15th  of  January.  On  that  oc 
casion  I  had  the  inexpressible  pleasure  of  taking  his  sword 
at  Fort  Fisher. 

Miss  K.  Wretch !  Then  he  is  a  prisoner.  I  suppose  you 
will  treat  him  well. 

Adjt.  Certainly,  Miss,  but  what  right  have  you  to  ex 
pect  or  ask  it  ?  Did  you  ever  see  any  of  our  men  in  confed 
erate  hands  ? 


198  HISTORY  OP    THE  117TH  R.   N.    Y.   V. 

Miss  K.  (With  dainty  and  contemptuous  expression.) 
What  a  wretched  looking  set ! 

Adjt.  When  you  saw  them,  they  did  not  represent  the 
Northern  physique.  The  unsightly  feature  which  so  shocked 
you,  was  but  the  reflex  of  confederate  cruelty.  The  starving 
process  applied  to  you,  I  apprehend  would  soon  reduce  your 
fair  proportions.  Might  it  not  induce  a  deformity  which 
would  utterly  defy  the  ingenious  devices  of  Fashion  ? 

Miss  K.  You  did  not  tell  us,  sir,  whether  you  have  any 
Bull  Run  men  with  you. 

Adjt.  We  probably  have  few  of  them,  though  they  were 
noble  soldiers.  We  all  came  in  at  the  front  door,  by  Fort 
Fisher.  There  is  my  associate,  was  blown  up  at  the  explosion 
of  the  magazine. 

Miss  K.  (Regarding  the  individual  referred  to.)  I  have 
nothing  against  the  gentleman  personally,  but,  seeing  he  is  a 
Yankee,  I  almost  wish  he  had  stayed  up.  What  a  set  of  van 
dals  you  Yankees  are.  You  take  all  our  sweet  potatoes  and 
chickens,  and,  a  day  or  two  since  some  of  your  tribe  took  our 
horses. 

Adjt.  A  party  entered  a  Northern  village  lately,  robbed 
banks  and  shot  down  men,  women  and  children  in  cold  blood. 
The  leader  of  the  gang,  after  his  capture,  proposed  to  defend 
himself  with  a  commission  from  your  president,  authorizing 
the  expedition.  Now  when  we  come  among  you  and  take  a 
chicken,  a  sweet  potato  or  a  horse,  the  ladies  insist  upon  read 
ing  us  lectures  on  military  propriety. 

Miss  K.    But,  Sir,  we  can  buy  other  horses. 

Adjt.    I  am  curious  to  know  what  you  will  buy  with. 

Miss  K.    Confederate  currency.    It  is  still  at  par. 

Adjt.    Who  will  exchange  gold  for  it  ? 


HISTORY  OP  THE  117TH  R.   N.   Y.   V.  199 

Miss  K.     I  will,  Sir. 

A  Union  officer.  (Extending  a  twenty  dollar  Confederate 
note.)  If  the  lady  desires  to  contribute  to  the  support  of  the 
Confederacy  in  that  way,  I  will  trouble  her  for  twenty  dollars 
in  gold. 

Miss  K.  Thank  you,  Sir,  I  deem  it  unsafe  to  expose  my 
specie  in  the  presence  of  the  Yankees,  I  therefore  decline. 

Adjt.  Ladies,  what  will  you  do  when  the  men  are  all 
killed  off? 

Miss  K.    We  will  enlist  ourselves  then. 

Adjt.  I  trust  you  will,  I  would  like  to  be  a  soldier  then. 
"We  would  make  short  work  of  the  war  in  that  event. 

Miss  K.     Why,  sir,  what  do  you  mean  ? 

Adjt.    I  mean  that  the  war  would  soon  cease. 

Miss  K.     How  would  you  finish  it  ?  pray  tell  me. 

Adjt.  (With  a  comical  expression,  and  a  mock  dignity.) 
Not  in  my  present  predicament  perhaps.  (Scanning  his  own 
apparel.)  It  is  embarrassing  to  appear  before  ladies  while  on 
a  toilsome  campaign,  but  in  that  case,  the  young  men  of  the 
North  would  dress  up  in  their  best,  and  if  we  could  not  cap 
ture,  we  would  captivate  you  all  in  just  two  weeks  after  begin 
ning  the  campaign. 

Ladies  all  (Laughing.)  No  sir  !  no  sir !  Never  a  Yankee 
for  us. 

Adjt.    An  innocent  prejudice,  Ladies. 

Miss  K.  Does  Old  Abe  get  time  to  split  rails,  pray  and 
joke  as  much  as  ever  ? 

Adjt.  Now,  Ladies,  I  did  not  expect  you  would  allude  to 
the  President's  joking  ability.  Why  I  have  heard  better  jok 
ing  in  the  Confederacy  than  I  ever  heard  North. 

Miss  K.    What  do  you  mean,  Sir  ? 


200  HISTORY  OP  THE  117TH  B.   N.   Y.   V. 

Adjt.  Well,  Miss,  I  have  heard  better  joking  in  this 
little  company,  than  I  ever  heard  before. 

Miss  K.    Please  explain  yourself  sir. 

Adjt.  Well,  this  joke  of  yours  about  the  "  Confederacy." 
You  know  there  is  no  such  thing  to  day  as  a  Confederacy. 
You  have  no  currency.  I  saw  an  old  slave  in  Wilmington, 
who  had  enough  of  Jeff's  notes  to  paper  the  inside  of  his  hut 
with,  and  they  said  he  was  going  to  put  them  to  that  use.  As 
for  your  army,  we  can't  find  it ;  and  here  you  are  still  striv 
ing  to  keep  up  the  illusion.  Madam,  you  can't  match  us  in 
war,  but  you  can  out  joke  us.  Ladies,  our  column  is  moving, 
we  must  bid  you  "good  day."  Not  however,  without  thanking 
you  for  your  hospitable,  and  able  entertainment. 

Miss  K.     I  suppose  you  speak  ironically. 

Adjt.  Ladies,  we  have  hardly  time  to  be  more  explicit — 
Good  day ! 

The  column  had  crossed  the  Rail-road  two  or  three  times 
during  the  march,  and  on  the  fifth  day  from  Wilmington, 
reached  Warsaw  Station.  There  a  detachment  of  Kilpat- 
rick's  cavalry  were  guarding  the  road.  From  this  point,  Gen. 
Terry's  force  moved  North-west,  striking  the  Neuse  River  at 
Coxe'  bridge,  ten  miles  above  Goldsboro',  where  it  seized  the 
crossing,  and  laid  pontoons  for  the  passage  of  most  of  Sher 
man's  army.  The  latter  arrived  and  crossed  on  the  22nd, 
(March.)  Gen.  Sherman  stopped  a  few  hours  at  Gen.  Ter 
ry's  Head-quarters.  Our  natural  curiosity  to  see  the  famous, 
intrepid  army,  that  had  fought  its  way  to  Atlanta,  and  then 
leisurely  marched  to  Savannah,  was  now  gratified.  On  sev 
eral  accounts,  the  sight  was  an  entertainment.  Our  troops 
had  endured  the  march  well.  Since  the  third  day  of  the 
journey,  when  the  sick  were  returned  by  steamboat  to  Wil- 


HISTORY  OP  THE  117TH  R.   N.   Y.   V.  201 

mington,  there  had  been  but  little  sickness,  and  that  of  a 
mild  form.  The  season,  and  the  region  passed  through,  were 
favorable  for  the  production  of  intermittent  fever,  hence  that 
disease  prevailed  to  some  extent.  The  vicinity  of  Coxe'  Bridge 
was  a  fair  agricultural  region.  Up  to  the  time  of  the  arrival 
of  the  army,  it  had  been,  comparatively  speaking,  a  land  of 
plenty.  Accordingly,  judicious  foraging  was  permitted.  The 
foraging  parties  seldom  returned  empty  handed.  Sweet  pota 
toes,  and  a  superior  quality  of  ham,  were  the  staple  products 
of  these  excursions,  though  I  should  not  forget  to  mention 
the  peanuts  which  were  brought  in  by  the  quantity.  Several 
of  the  parties  encountered  squads  of  Wheeler's  cavalry,  which 
event  afforded  them  a  little  violent  exercise,  and  rendered  the 
expedition  the  more  easy  to  remember.  A  few  fell  prisoners 
in  this  way. 

The  embarrassment  to  which  citizens  were  subjected,  who 
were  visited  alternately  by  the  opposing  forces,  is  well  illus 
trated  by  a  little  episode  which  occurred  on  one  of  these  ex 
cursions.  An  account  of  it,  as  given  by  an  eye  and  ear  wit 
ness,  may  be  here  related  : 

A  foraging  party  from  the  117th,  included  a  private  who 
rejoiced  in  the  suggestive  name  of  "  Bumhard,"  by  birth  a 
German.  In  the  course  of  the  tour,  the  party  came  upon  the 
premises  of  a  well-to-do  Confederate  Dutchman.  He  was 
surrounded  by  indications  of  thrift  and  comfort,  to  a  degree 
seldom  seen  nearer  the  borders  of  the  Confederacy.  The 
recognition  between  Bumhard  and  his  fellow  countryman, 
was  prompt  and  mutual,  and  was  soon  followed  by  this  con 
versation  : 

Bumhard.    Why  you  no  in  de  rebel  army  ? 

Confederate  Dutchman.    Cause  see,  I  buy's  'em  out. 


202  HISTORY  OP  THE  117TH  R.  N.   Y  V. 

Bumhard.  Veil,  den,  now  you  takes  de  oat  (oath)  to 
«  Uncle  Sam." 

Confed.  Dutchman.  No  !  no !  I  no  takes  him.  Cause  for 
I  takes  de  oat,  den  de  Johnny  Eebs,  he  comes  and  gives  me 
h— 1. 

Bumhard,  (with  vehemence.)  Yell  den  see,  you  no  takes 
do  oat,  den  I  gives  you  h — 1  NOW". 

When,  suiting  the  action  to  the  threat,  he  made  a  forcible 
entry  into  the  smoke-house,  helped  himself  and  comrades 
liberally  to  the  ham,  and  shot  and  carried  off  the  still  unter- 
rified  poultry  on  the  premises,  under  the  eyes  of  the  owner, 
who  stood,  a  petrified  embodiment  of  Teutonic  disgust. 

On  the  25th,  about  four  days  after  reaching  this  point,  the 
force  returned  to  Faison's  Station,  which  is  on  the  Wilming 
ton  and  Weldon  Rail-road,  about  twenty  miles  south  of  Golds- 
boro.  After  encamping,  it  relieved  Kilpatrick's  cavalry,  which 
had  been  guarding  the  road.  At  Faison's  we  remained 
eighteen  days.  This  was  an  unhealthy  region,  and  the  sick 
ness  increased  to  an  unusual  degree.  Intermittent,  bilious 
and  typhoid  fever,  were  the  prevailing  diseases.  The  sick 
ness  in  the  regiment,  however,  was  not  of  a  grave  type.  The 
regiment  lost  none  by  death  while  at  Faison's,  though  several 
very  sick  men  were  sent  to  Wilmington,  on  the  morning  of 
our  departure.  Though  lying  here  within  the  Confederacy, 
there  were  no  warlike  demonstrations,  except  those  made  by 
Wheeler's  cavalry,  who  harrassed  our  out-posts  almost  daily, 
making  in  all,  several  captures.  Foraging  parties,  also,  were 
attacked.  Two  or  three  of  the  latter  class,  assuming  all  blue- 
clad  horsemen  to  be  union  men,  paid  for  their  credulity  by  a 
few  days  of  captivity. 


HISTORY  OP  THE  117TH  B.  N.   Y.   V.  203 

On  the  9th  day  of  April,  we  received  the  news  of  the  evac 
uation  of  Richmond.  Preparations  were  at  once  made  for  an 
advance.  Hospitals  were  broken  up,  and  the  sick  taken  to 
the  station,  to  be  put  on  board  of  a  train  of  cars,  which  was 
to  be  sent  to  Wilmington  for  the  purpose.  It  was  sad  to  see 
those  who  were  very  low,  subjected  to  the  annoyance  of  a  re 
moval.  Among  the  latter  was  Surgeon  Washburn,  Medical 
Director  of  the  2d  Division.  He  had  been  attacked  with 
fever,  as  a  consequence,  it  would  seem,  of  his  devoted  atten 
tions  to  our  re-captured  prisoners;  had  become  very  sick  soon 
after  leaving  Wilmington,  and  now,  at  the  most  critical  period, 
he  with  others,  also  very  ill,  had  to  be  moved.  There  was  no 
alternative.  Wheeler's  cavalry,  who  were  a  most  desperate 
gang,  were  impatiently  hovering  about,. and  if  they  would  not 
have  murdered  the  sick,  they  were  ready  at  once  to  deprive 
them  of  all  attendance,  and  of  every  comfort.  Surgeon 
Washburn  died  on  the  passage.  He  was  a  fine  physician  and 
presented,  in  his  character,  a  remarkable  combination  of  the 
Christian  graces.  Several  others  died  soon  after  their  arrival 
at  Wilmington. 

On  the  morning  of  the  10th,  as  the  train  sped  southward, 
the  column  set  out  for  Raleigh.  The  news  from  Richmond, 
newly  inspired  the  troops  ;  they  were  now  eager  to  join  the 
other  portions  of  the  army,  in  the  final  conflict  with  Lee,  who 
it  was  supposed,  might  possibly  elude  Gen.  Grant,  and  form  a 
conjunction  with  Johnston.  Our  course  was  North-west.  The 
country,  agriculturally,  was  quite  inferior  to  the  region  about 
Keenansville.  On  the  second  day  of  the  march,  we  crossed 
a  very  clear  and  beautiful  stream,  the  first  we  had  met  whose 
descent  was  sufficient  to  cause  an  audible  murmur.  The  puri 
ty  of  the  water,  and  the  music  of  its  flow,  were  the  first  re- 


204  HISTORY  OP    THE  117TH  B.   N.   Y.   V. 

minder  we  had  had  on  that  toilsome  journey,  of  New  York 
scenery.  Every  other  sight  had  suggested  our  native  state 
only  by  contrast.  The  arrival  of  each  regiment  to  it,  was 
denoted  by  an  involuntary  shout  of  joy  and  exultation.  The 
troops  marched  spiritedly.  .The  season,  the  stage  of  the  war, 
and  the  direction  of  the  movement,  were  all  inspiring  circum 
stances. 

Many  of  the  boys  were  evidently  improving  this  opportu 
nity,  for  an  inside  view  of  another  seceded  state. 

The  members  of  the  regiment  had  often  witnessed  and 
expressed  surprise  at  the  palpable  ignorance  of  the  lower 
classes  in  the  states  we  had  visited.  They  had  seen  it  in 
Virginia,  where  some  of  them  heard  a  poor  woman  (on  see 
ing  two  regiments  of  the  brigade)  exclaim,  "  There  I've  seen 
the  great  Yankee  army.  I  did  'nt  know  there  was  so  many 
folks  in  the  world."  They  had  seen  it  in  the  language  and 
manner  of  the  4th  N.  C.  Reserves,  taken  on  Federal  Point ; 
one  of  whom  inquired,  "  If  we'uns  will  let  things  be  like  they 
was  fore  the  war;  will  you'uns  let  we'uns  go  back  home 
agin  "  ?  In  the  major  commanding  them,  who  said  he  "  did 
not  mind  bein  taken  prisner,  but  he  would  almost  rather  be 
kilt  than  to  go  to  sea."  In  the  report  given  by  the  prisoners 
themselves,  that  not  more  than  one  in  ten  could  read  and 
write.  They  saw  it  in  the  letters  which  lay  strewn  about 
within  the  enclosure  of  Fort  Fisher,  many  of  which  contained 
such  expressions  as  the  following.  "Wen  this  war  will  ever 
end  the  lord  only  nose."  "If  tha  want  me  I  will  come  and 
teach  for  them  this  faul." 

There  were  many  letters  there,  every  line  of  which  con 
tained  flagrant  examples  of  false  orthography.  The  mechan 
ical  execution  was  in  perfect  keeping  with  the  spelling. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  117TH  R.   N.   Y.   V.  205 

Perhaps  no  one  of  the  samples  would  be  an  anomaly  in  N. 
Y.  State,  but  what  is  remarkable,  is  the  fact  that  among  the 
letters  found  in  and  about  Fort  Fisher,  those  giving  evidence 
of  more  intelligence  in  the  writer  were  the  exception. 
Nearly  all  the  passably  executed  letters  were  official.  The 
wretchedly  spelled  and  illegible  scrawl  which  is  the  rule  in 
those  states,  is  the  rare  exception  at  the  North.  Besides,  in 
their  occasional  contact  with  the  citizens  through  North 
Carolina,  the  men  met  with  entire  families,  not  a  member  of 
which  could  read. 

Here,  too,  they  met  with  an  explanation.  During  our 
transit  of  the  state,  we  saw  hardly  more  than  two  or  three 
school-houses,  and  those  were  small  and  presented  every  in 
dication  of  having  been  built  with  reference  to  the  wants  of 
two  or  three  families. 

Hence,  the  deplorable  ignorance  of  the  masses,  and,  hence 
again,  the  rebellion.  Political  economy  does  not  regard  the 
rebellion  as  a  freak  of  human  nature,  but,  the  unavoidable 
effect  of  an  obvious  cause.  The  acknowledged  and  practical 
supremacy  of  the  few,  excited  in  them  a  growing  desire  to 
rule  and  finally  a  desire  for  a  separate  government.  How 
clear,  that  if  they  could  effect  a  separation,  they,  the  aris 
tocracy,  could  rule  absolute  over  the  abject  populace  their  sys 
tem  of  exclusive  education  had  produced.  The  ignorance  of 
the  masses  had  rendered  them  passive  under  injury ;  their 
credulity  would  make  them  fierce  partizans  and  zealous  sup 
porters  of  any  heresy.  They  might  therefore  be  relied  on. 

Besides,  the  illiterate  condition  of  the  "poor  whites,"  their 
necessary  lack  of  the  grace  of  affluence,  made  them  mentally 
and  externally  distinct  from  the  aristocracy.  They  were 
thus  excluded  from  the  sympathies  of  the  rich.  In  the  pres. 


206  HISTORY  OP  THE  117TH  R.   N.   Y.   V. 

ence  of  bonded  black  laborers  they  were  regarded  a  superflu 
ous  class,  and  therefore  a  cheap  war  material.  To  what 
extent,  the  leaders  of  the  rebellion  were  actuated  by  their 
contempt  of  the  class  which  would  constitute  the  rank  and 
file  of  their  army,  it  is  difficult  to  say.  That  it  did  much  to 
free  them  from  a  wholesome  dread  of  war,  there  can  be  no 
doubt.  In  no  other  particular  does  the  South  differ  so  much 
from  the  North  as  in  the  absence  of  educational  facilities  and 
in  the  illiterate  condition  of  the  masses.  The  rebellion  was 
but  the  consummation  of  social  disorder;  effectual  reconstruc 
tion  consists  in  the  removal  of  the  social  conditions  which 
induced  secession.  It  was  the  misfortune  of  the  South,  and 
so  of  the  nation,  that  the  South,  departed  from,  or  rather  that 
it  refused  to  adopt  the  Democratic  policy  enjoined  by  Washing 
ton.  "  Promote  as  objects  of  the  first  importance,  institutions 
for  the  general  diffusion  of  knowledge."  It  has  been  remark 
ed  that  many  of  the  rebels  are  coming  North  for  the  purpose 
of  discovering  if  possible  "what  on  earth  whipped  them  so." 

Let  them  come.  There  is  little  doubt  that  those  who  are 
capable  of  discerning,  will  perceive  that  the  honor  of  the  dis 
charge  of  that  important  public  duty  belongs  primarily  to  the 
School-master  who  is,  after  all,  the  most  potent  Americanizing, 
assimilating,  and  reconstructing  agent.  He  was  excluded  by 
the  South  despite  the  injunction  of  "Washington.  Abraham 
Lincoln  beat  down,  with  cannon  and  sword  the  partition  wall. 
Let  the  school-master  go  down  and  reconstruct. 

Though  school-houses  were  rarely  seen,  very  plain  wood 
colored  church  edifices  were  met  with  at  intervals  of  a  few 
miles.  These  were  generally  standing  in  groves.  Much  sur 
prise  was  expressed  at  the  great  number  of  Masonic  Lodges, 
met  with.  They  appeared  more  plenty  in  that  region  than 


HISTORY  OP  THE  117TH  R.   N.   Y.   V.  207 

they  are  in  the  North.  In  and  about  some  of  these  lodges 
applications  for  membership  were  picked  up  in  which  the  ap 
plicant  had  unreservedly  expressed  a  purpose  to  comply  with 
all  the  requirements  of  the  society.  * 

The  order,  it  seemed,  had  accepted  without  discrimination,  a 
majority  of  the  "poor  white  trash,"  a  class,  which,  before  the 
war,  were  never  annoyed  with  solicitations  to  join.  On  witness 
ing  this  aggressive  feature,  this  unparalleled  democratic  tend 
ency,  which  it  had  so  suddenly  acquired  in  that  latitude,  and 
the  diligent  attention  it  had  received,  at  a  time  when  the 
public  mind  must  have  been  very  much  pre-occupied,  it  was 
difficult  to  avoid  the  conclusion,  that  the  order  had  been  an 
effective  promoter  of  the  interests  of  treason.  This  conclusion 
seems  supported  by  the  law  of  probabilities.  Is  not  the  order 
beautifully  adapted  to  the  work  of  moulding  and  directing 
its  members  with  reference  to  a  given  object  ?  Is  not  the 
form  ominously  similar  to  that  of  a  conspiracy  ?  That  the 
confederates  realized  their  need  of  a  cementing  agency  will 
not  be  questioned,  and,  that  men  sufficiently  corrupt  were 
numbered  among  its  members,  is  also  patent. 

Another  note-worthy  object  met  with  in  the  interior,  was 
the  domestic  campaign  literature.  Much  of  it  was  designed 
expressly  for  the  camp,  or,  at  all  events, exclusively  for  home 
consumption.  The  mental  aliment,  which  had  no  doubt  been 
intelligently  adapted,  was  another  forcible  revelation  of  the  gross 
ignorance  of  the  masses.  The  literature  was  as  low,  and,  in  its 
arguments,  quite  as  absurd,  as  that  which  is  so  diligently 
employed  at  the  North  to  preserve  the  political  status  of  the 
illiterate  foreign  element.  Some  of  it  was  Pollard's  own. 


208  HISTORY  OF  THE   117TH  R.   N.   Y.   V. 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

MARCH  TO  RALEIGH  CONCLUDED,  AND  SOJOURN 
IN  THAT  CITY. 

Passage  of  Bentonville  Battle-field. — Bentonville. — News  of  Lee's  Surrender. — 
How  Eeceived  by  the  Troops. — Reach  Raleigh. — Receive  News  that  Sherman, 
with  a  Portion  of  his  Army,  has  confronted  Johnston,  and  that  the  latter  pro 
poses  to  Surrender. — Great  Rejoicing. — The  Capitulation  Tediously  Protracted. 
— Receipt  of  the  Intelligence  of  the  Assassination  of  President  Lincoln. — The 
News  Confirmed. — Its  Effect  on  the  Troops. — They  Want  to  go  Forward,  to 
Facilitate  the  Surrender. — Gen.  Grant  on  his  way  to  Raleigh. — Telegraphs  and 
Order  to  Prepare  to  March. — The  Surrender  Concluded. — A  Grand  Military 
Review  in  Raleigh. — The  Enemy  having  been  thoroughly  Vanquished,  the 
Troops  are  Impatient  to  Return  Home. — Gen.  Sherman's  Army  marches  for 
Washington. — Health  of  the  Regiment. — Social  and  Political  Aspects  of  Ra 
leigh,  with  Incidents. 

ON  the  march,  we  crossed  the  Bentonville  battle-field.  The 
scene  of  this  decisive  engagement  between  Gen.  Slocum  and 
the  rebel  Gen.  Johnston,  is  mainly  in  the  wood.  The  marks 
of  bullet,  shot  and  shell,  were  thick  on  shrub  and  tree ;  at  a 
certain  height  from  the  surface,  there  was  scarcely  a  twig  or 
bough  that  did  not  present  its  transverse  groove,  or  its  abrupt 
termination. 

A  short  time  later  we  reached  Beutonville..  It  is  in  the 
midst  of  a  sparsely  settled  region-,  situated  on  the  high  bank 
of  a  sluggish  water-course,  and  consists  of  scarcely  a  dozen 
small  unpainted  weather-beaten  dwellings.  Two  or  three  of 
these  primitive  tenements,  were  still  occupied  by  several 
severely  wounded  rebel  soldiers.  They  were  destitute  of 


HISTORY  OP  THE  117TH  R.   N.    Y.    V.  209 

hospital  conveniences,  were  indifferently  attended  and  ap 
peared  to  be  subsisting  on  the  plainest  quality  of  food. 
Besides  the  wounded  soldiers,  the  population  of  the  Village, 
consisted  of  three  or  four  very  poor  families. 

On  the  3rd  day,  from  Faison's  (18th,)  as  the  column  was 
slowly  toiling  along,  it  was  met  by  a  courier  with  an  official 
dispatch,  containing  the  news  of  Lee's  surrender.  The  pro 
cession  was  halted  and  the  message  announced,  when  a  shout 
went  up  from  thousands  of  throats ;  such  an  acclamation 
as  those  "valleys  and  rocks  never  heard."  And  away  it 
rolled  back  down  the  winding  column,  and  again  it  swelled 
forth,  while  the  air  overhead  was  literally  filled  with  hats, 
haversacks  and  belts,  and  even  guns  and  swords  were  seen 
making  summersaults  at  an  unusual  height.  Here  and  there 
too  might  be  seen  warm  handshakings  and  cordial  gratula- 
tions  at  the  news,  and  those  who  have  experienced  the  priva 
tions  and  perils  of  soldier  life,  will  not  be  surprised  to  learn 
that  there  were  even  tears  of  joy  when  those  sturdy  soldiers 
were  thus  suddenly  brought  to  realize  the  glorious  event  of 
"Victory  at  last."  How  naturally  the  mind  reverted  to  those 
long  years  of  national  agony,  which  had  followed  that  first 
shot  at  Sumter.  Bull  Run,  Malvern  Hill,  Fredericksburg, 
Vicksburg,  Gettysburg,  Petersburg  and  Fort  Fisher  came 
again  to  mind.  The  soldier  thought  again  of  Libby  prison, 
and  of  Andersonville,  and  how  could  he  contemplate  this 
signal  success,  in  utter  forgetfulness  of  Chicago  in  '64. 
Surely  the  brave  boys  had  not  suffered  for  naught,  the  fallen 
had  not  died  in  vain.  Here  at  last  was  victory,  for  the  sac 
rifice,  and  a  joy  for  past  humiliation. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  14th,  the  column  came  in  sight  of 
Raleigh.  The  young  leaves  of  her  ample  oaks,  had  not  yet 


210  HISTORY  OF  THE   117TH  B.   N.   T.   V. 

hidden  her  public  buildings  and  stately  dwellings.  The  troops 
were  elated  at  the  sight  of  the  capital.  The  city  presented  a 
pleasant  contrast  with  the  scenes  afforded  by  the  last  journey ; 
the  sight  was  cheering  also,  as  an  evidence  of  our  military 
progress.  Having  approached  by  the  South  East,  Gen. 
Terry's  force,  encamped  on  that  side  of  the  city,  and  about 
three  fourths  of  a  mile  out.  Most  of  Gen.  Sherman's  army 
arriving  about  the  same  time,  it  extended  its  encampment, 
so  that  the  armies  together  encircled  the  town. 

The  capital  is  a  fine  and  very  large  stone  structure,  occu 
pying  a  central  eminence.  The  Governor's  mansion  is  directly 
in  front  of  it,  though  at  the  distance  of  half  a  mile.  Stand 
ing  in  the  door  of  either  building,  you  can  see  the  entrance 
of  the  other  as  you  look  through  the  length  of  the  grand 
shady  aisle  of  Fayetteville  Avenue.  In  the  yard  of  the  cap- 
itol,  stands  a  statue  of  Washington.  The  interior  of  the 
capitol,  presented  a  scene  of  the  utmost  confusion.  Bound 
legislative  documents,  and  maps,  lay  strewn  about  the  floor 
of  the  library.  The  museum  rooms  were  in  even  a  worse 
plight.  The  sash  and  glass  of  the  cases  had  been  broken, 
and  many  of  the  specimens  of  natural  history  had  been  "con 
fiscated."  The  geological  collections  had  been  wantonly 
broken  and  promiscuously  scattered.  The  assembly  and 
senate  chambers  were  deserted  and  silent.  The  floor  of  the 
former  was  sprinkled  with  scraps  of  writing  paper,  and  ink 
stands.  On  a  shelf  behind  the  speaker's  desk,  was  a  marble 
bust,  on  the  base  of  which  in  relief  were  the  words  "  John 
C.  Calhoun."  Poised  on  its  crown,  was  an  inverted  inkstand, 
whose  contents  had  descended  in  copious  streams  over  the 
face.  The  marks  of  a  brush  or  cloth  charged  with  the  same 
fluid,  had  still  more  besmutted  the  features.  Under  the 


HISTORY  OF  THE  117TH  R.   N.   Y.   V.  211 

name,  in  pencil,  was  written  this  explanatory  clause.  "  Yes, 
father  of  Secessionism."  Many  of  the  citizens,  under  a 
wholesome,  but  alas,  too  transient  conviction  of  their  ill 
deserts,  had  left  before  the  arrival  of  the  Union  Army.  A 
few  had  remained,  and  a  number  of  the  others  soon  returned. 

There  was  a  good  deal  of  impatience  now  evinced  on  the 
part  of  the  troops  concerning  Johnston.  It  was  expressed  in 
language  such  as  this.  "  The  army  of  the  Potomac  have  had 
the  satisfaction  of  whipping  Lee ;  why  don't  they  let  us  whip 
Johnston."  Then  there  came  word  that  Sherman  with  a 
portion  of  his  army,  was  confronting  Johnston,  and  that  the 
latter  was  capitulating.  The  vocal  demonstrations  of  joy 
that  went  up  on  the  receipt  of  that  news  will  never  be  for 
gotten  by  those  who  heard  it.  It  continued  with  temporary 
interruptions  for  several  hours.  It  was  the  language  of 
nearly  a  hundred  thousand  overjoyed  veteran  soldiers.  Dur 
ing  this  jubilee  it  was  rumored  that  President  Lincoln  had 
been  assassinated.  The  rumor  went  through  the  entire  army 
in  a  few  minutes,  but  it  was  said,  it  was  "  not  credited  at 
Head  Quarters,"  and  it  was  not  therefore  "believed  by  the 
soldiers. 

A  day  or  two  later  the  news  was  confirmed.  The  visible 
effect  on  the  army  is  not  easy  to  describe,  nor  need  it  be,  as 
there  is  little  probability  that  these  pages  will  be  read  by  those 
who  do  not  heartily  sympathize  in  that  national  calamity. 
Now,  search  creation  for  a  parallel  to  this  ;  Lincoln,  the  Pres 
ident,  assassinated  while  his  victorious  "hirelings!"  a  hund 
red  thousand  strong,  were  surrounding  a  capital  city  of  the 
enemy,  and  not  a  house  burned,  not  a  store  pillaged,  not  a 
person  of  the  enemy  insulted.  On  the  other  hand,  whilst  the 
corpse  of  that  Immortal  Patriot  was  lying  in  state,  his  sol- 


212  HISTORY  OF  THE   117TH  R.   N.    Y.   V. 

diers,  the  livelong  night  were  protecting  the  premises  of  those 
who  had  sought  his  life,  and  thus  affording  quiet  sleep  to 
those  termagant  slave  mistresses  who  openly  exulted  at  his 
cruel  and  untimely  death.  Is  not  this  magnanimity  ?  What 
government  affords  a  parallel  ? 

There  being  still  no  news  of  results  in  the  matter  pending 
between  Sherman  and  Johnston,  and  it  being  a  question  in 
which  the  humblest  and  the  greatest  had  an  equal  interest, 
the  troops  again  began  to  murmur.  "How  long,"  it  was 
petulently  and  perhaps  pertinently  asked,  "  does  it  take  a 
rebel  General  to  surrender?"  The  dissatisfaction  would 
have  been  much  more  marked,  had  not  the  matter  been  in  the 
hands  of  Gen.  Sherman,  who,  up  to  that  time,  among  the 
soldiers  I  think,  was  the  most  popular  man  in  the  United 
States.  But  when  the  troops  began  to  suspect  that  this  great 
commander  had  assumed,  with  the  duty  of  restoring  the  au 
thority  of  the  government,  the  gratuitous  job  of  preserving 
the  self-respect  of  traitors,  they  seemed  to  admire  more  mod 
erately.  Then  word  came,  that  the  terms  of  surrender  ex 
tended  to  Johnston  by  Gen.  Sherman,  were  unsatisfactory  to 
the  Authorities  at  Washington,  and  that  Gen.  Grant  was  on 
his  way  to  Raleigh.  Simultaneously  with  this,  came  an 
order  to  prepare  to  move.  This  was  understood,  of  course, 
as  an  order  to  prepare  to  advance  toward  Johnston's  army. 
The  work  of  preparation  was  begun  with  unwonted  alacrity 
and  spirit,  and  with  such  expressions  as  the  following.  "  If 
we  march  after  Johnston  now,  and  meet  him  as  an  enemy, 

d n  him ;  he  will   wish  he   had  surrendered  decently." 

But  Johnston,  without  any  of  Gen.  Sherman's  aid,  at  length 
discerned  the  danger,  if  not  the  absurdity,  of  further  delay. 
Accordingly,  the  word  passed  that  the  troops  would  not 


HISTORY  OF  THE  117TH  B.   N.    Y.   V.  213 

move,  and  then  came  the  news  of  Johnston's  surrender. 
The  protracted  parley  between  those  two  representative  com 
manders  at  that  stage  of  the  war,  was  felt  by  the  army,  as  a 
humiliating  event.  The  proceeding  contrasted  significantly 
with  those  attending  the  surrender  of  Yicksburg. 

The  attention  was  fully  occupied,  for  a  few  days,  with  a 
grand  review  of  all  the  troops  in  that  vicinity.  It  was  begun 
before  the  arrival  of  Gen.  Grant,  and  concluded  under  his 
supervision.  It  was  a  great  display,  and  must  have  been  en 
tertaining  to  loyal  citizens,  and  not  uninteresting  to  citizens 
of  a  different  political  persuasion ;  but  at  that  date  a  military 
review  afforded  but  little  of  novelty  to  the  soldiers  then  gath 
ered  at  Raleigh.  Still  the  troops  evidently  enjoyed  it.  They 
in  various  ways  manifested  their  appreciation  of  the  event, 
without  any  of  that  fulsome  hero-worship,  which  character 
ized  the  reviews  of  1861  and  '62.  Soon  after,  an  unusual 
impatience  discovered  itself  among  the  soldiers,  at  their  deten 
tion  in  the  army.  The  feeling  was  general.  Hundreds  who 
had  cheerfully  endured  the  hardships  and  dangers  of  the 
field  for  months,  and  some  during  the  war,  now,  that  Lee  and 
Johnston  were  vanquished,  and  the  rebellious  spirit  evident 
ly  utterly  broken,  were  impatient  to  return  to  their  former 
peaceful  pursuits.  The  same  disposition  was  manifest  among 
the  officers.  The  prime  military  stimulant,  an  armed  enemy 
to  the  government,  having  been  removed,  the  service  became 
at  once,  to  nearly  all,  intolerably  irksome.  But  as  the  indi 
vidual  wishes  of  soldiers  seldom  influence  the  man  at  Head 
quarters,  the  command  remained. 

Not  many  days  after  the  review,  Gen.  Sherman's  Army  set 
out  for  Washington,  and  Gen.  Terry's  troops  were  ordered  to 
remain  for  a  time  at  Raleigh.  The  duty  was  light,  and  per- 


214  HISTORY  OF  THE  117TH  R.   N.   Y.   V. 

haps  too  light  for  the  physical  well-being  of  the  men.  The 
want  of  military  excitement,  and  the  enervating  effects  of  a 
rising  temperature,  caused  an  unusual  amount  of  sickness. 
Intermittent  and  typhoid  fevers  were  very  prevalent.  The 
regiment  lost  one  member  by  death,  during  its  stay  at  Raleigh. 
The  sick  found  hospital  accommodations  in  buildings  erected 
by  the  enemy,  for  the  purpose  of  a  general  hospital.  It  had 
been  gotten  up  on  a  liberal  scale.  It  was  situated  on  an  emi 
nence,  about  a  mile  directly  east  of  the  Capitol,  and  quite 
without  the  city  limits.  The  wards  were  named  after  promi 
nent  rebel  Generals.  The  name  being  conspicuously  posted 
above  the  door  of  each.  Of  course  these  labels  soon  disap 
peared.  When  we  arrived,  a  number  of  confederate  wound 
ed  were  occupying  the  different  wards.  Most  of  them  were 
from  the  Bentonville  field,  but  a  number  had  been  there  for 
months.  The  rebel  patients  -  were  soon  placed  in  consecutive 
wards,  when  the  emptied  buildings  were  cleansed  for  the  re 
ception  of  our  sick.  Several  large  public  buildings  were 
seized  at  first,  and  converted  into  hospitals,  but  they  were  va 
cated  by  the  removal  of  the  sick  north,  when  Sherman  moved. 
A  few  days  after  our  arrival  at  Raleigh,  squads  of  confed 
erate  soldiers,  from  Lee's  and  Johnston's  armies,  began  to 
come  in.  They  were  in  a  sad  plight.  Weary  and  way-worn, 
unpaid,  and  almost  without  exception,  entirely  dependent  on 
the  people  for  subsistence.  Yery  few  of  them  expressed  re 
gret  at  the  failure  of  the  Confederacy,  for  the  very  good:  rea 
son  that  as  a  class,  they  could  have  gained  nothing  from  its 
success.  Here  and  there  these  ex-soldiers  could  be  seen 
freely  conversing  with  our  soldiers,  on  the  circumstances  at 
tending  the  late  collapse.  They  had  been  so  diligently  taught 
that  every  reverse  was  a  "blessing  in  disguise,"  they  seemed 


HISTORY  OP  THE  117TH  R.   N.   Y.   V.  215 

in  just  the  mood  to  accept  this,  the  greatest  reverse,  as  the 
greatest  blessing.  It  was  not  so  with  the  officers.  While  they 
unreservedly  admitted  that  they  had  been  thoroughly  beaten, 
and  that  their  cause  was  irretrievably  lost,  they  still  urged 
that  if  they  could  have  effected  a  separation,  the  south  would 
have  been  better  off.  Some  ventured  to  say,  that  they  would 
have  succeeded  better,  contending  for  the  same  thing,  under 
the  old  flag.  They  thought  in  that  case,  the  "  division  at  the 
North  would  have  been  more  nearly  equal." 

The  wealthy  were  very  desirous  that  Davis  and  his  cabinet 
should  make  their  escape.  They  accepted,  reluctantly,  the 
report  of  Davis*  capture,  but  rejected  as  a  "Yankee  lie,"  the 
statement  of  his  seeking  the  disguise  of  female  apparel.  The 
account  of  the  circumstances  attending  his  capture,  were  so 
exceedingly  mortifying  to  them,  that  out  of  courtesy,  the 
unionists  tacitly  admitted  the  probability  of  a  "Yankee  ex 
aggeration."  Who  could  deny  them  this  morsel  of  comfort  ? 

Andrew  Johnson  having  become  president,  and  this  vicinity 
having  been  his  native  place,  incidents  of  his  early  life  were 
rehearsed  in  every  ancient  household.  And  in  most  instances 
the  power  of  memory  appeared  more  remarkable  by  far,  than 
the  incidents.  One  vouched  for  the  fact  that  once,  "  Andy's 
father  rescued  a  neighbor  from  drowning."  Another,  an 
aged  man,  remarked,  "I  remember  when  a  young  man,  I 
bought  at  the  shop  at  which  Andy  was  then  an  apprentice,  the 
nice  black  suit  in  which  I  courted  the  lady  who  finally  became 
my  wife.  I  wore  the  suit  first,  when  I  came  to  visit  her  in 
this  very  house."  None  omitted  to  state,  in  conclusion,  that 
at  that  time  Andy  was  classed  among  the  "  poor  whites."  And 
said  one,  "he  never  could  have  been  vice  president,  even,  if 
he  had  not  emigrated  ! " 


216  HISTORY  OF  THE  117TH  R.   N.    Y.   V. 

The  troops  then  at  Raleigh,  witnessed  North  Carolina's  first 
feeble,  but  most  sincere  endeavors  towards  reconstruction. 
A  public  meeting  was  advertised  to  be  held  on  the  Capitol 
grounds.  Its  object  was  the  ratification  of  the  new  order  of 
things.  There  appeared,  also,  to  be  a  wish  to  ascertain  the 
strength  of  Mr.  Holden  as  candidate  for  Governor.  The 
gathering  was  not  large,  but  motley.  The  poor  citizens,  and 
the  war-worn  rebel  soldiers,  who  had  stopped  on  their  home 
ward  journey,  to  hear  and  rest,  constituted  the  prevailing 
butternut  groundwork ;  here  and  there  was  a  steel  mixed 
suit,  denoting  a  rebel  officer.  All  this  was  freely  dotted  with 
loyal  blue,  while  the  whole  was  surrounded  with  a  liberal  con 
traband  border.  It  was  a  great  occasion  for  Raleigh.  This 
was  the  first  for  a  long  time  that  men  had  been  able  to  assem 
ble  in  safety,  in  public,  under  the  stars  and  stripes.  The  prin 
cipal  speakers  were  Mr.  Holden,  Ex-Secretary  Thomas,  and  a 
prominent  public  man  by  the  name  of  Russ.  The  first  is  a 
deliberate  and  rather  prosy  speaker,  but  evidently  a  man  of 
strong  humane  sympathies.  The  second  was  a  fair  speaker. 
The  last,  Mr.  Russ,  was  remarkably  energetic  and  humorous. 
He  made  use  of  an  illustration,  which  he  would  hardly  ven 
ture  to  repeat  in  some  portions  of  the  confederacy  to-day. 
Addressing  his  fellow  citizens,  he  alluded  to  the  collapse  of 
the  rebellion  as  follows  : 

fa  "Our  effort  at  secession  has  ended  disastrously,  and  even, 
ridiculously  for  us.  I  cannot  review  the  fool-hardiness  of 
the  leaders,  the  relative  strength  of  the  opposing  forces,  and 
the  folly,  which  is  now  so  obvious,  and  which  should  be  a 
lesson  to  the  discontented  for  all  time  to  come,  without  being 
reminded  of  a  little  circumstance  which  occurred  on  the 
Railroad,  not  far' from  here,  some  time  since.  A  little  two 


HISTORY  OF  THE   117TH  B.   N.    Y.  V.  217 

year  old  bull,  small  of  his  age,  and  which  would  probably 
have  weighed  sixty-five  pounds  when  fat,  was  grazing  on  the 
commons,  when  he  heard  the  low  rumbling  of  the  locomotive 
as  it  sped  majestically  along  on  its  accustomed  groove.  The 
sound  excited  his  combativeness.  Walking  down  on  the  track, 
he  assumed  a  defiant  attitude,  and  began  to  scrape  and  roar 
in  a  manner  quite  characteristic.  Meanwhile  the  impending 
locomotive  came  down  and  swept  by,  leaving  naught  of  the 
ambitious  quadruped  save  a  few  shreds  of  "jerked  beef."  An 
Irishman  coming  up,  beheld  the  remains  of  the  would-be 
hero,  and  comprehending  the  nature  of  the  conflict,  thus 
aptly  commented :  Bejabbers  !  an  ye  had  a  foin  courage,  but 
a  dom  poor  judgment." 

The  illustration,  disparaging  as  it  was  to  southern  sagacity, 
was  in  the  main,  well  received.  Some  of  the  released  rebel 
soldiers  enjoyed  the  anecdote  exceedingly,  while  the  rebel 
officers  did  not  deign  an  endorsing  smile.  Sambo  discerned 
the  point  and  simultaneously  discovered  his  dentine. 

The  camp  ground,  occupied  by  the  1st  Brigade,  was  low, 
unsheltered  from  the  sun,  and  unfavorable  to  health.  Two  or 
three  days  after  Sherman's  departure,  the  brigade  was  per 
mitted  to  take  an  eligible  position  in  the  northern  suburbs  of 
the  town.  This  new  camp  was  in  a  beautiful  grove,  on  the 
premises  of  Kenneth  Raynor,  formerly  a  prominent  southern 
Congressman.  The  regiment  lay  immediately  in  rear  of  the 
mansion.  This  change  was  a  marked  improvement  on  the 
former  camp,  and  was  followed  by  an  increase  of  comfort  and 
a  better  state  of  health. 

On  an  unoccupied  lot  adjoining  Mr.  Raynor's,  Division 
Head-quarters  were  established.  The  green-sward  and  the 
shadow  of  a  venerable  wide-spreading  oak,  such  as  we  saw 


218  HISTORY  OP  THE  117TH  B.  N.   Y.   V. 

only  in  Raleigh,  rendered  the  place  very  inviting.  It  seemed 
additionally  pleasant  to  several  young  men  at  Head-quarters, 
on  account  of  its  contiguity  to  Mr.  Raynor's,  the  porch  of 
whose  residence  was  not  unfrequently  the  resort  of  the  Misses 
Raynor  and  their  female  friends. 

"  Young  eyes  will  meet  young  eyes, 
Young  hearts  will  meet  young  hearts," 

and  accordingly,  interviews  between  those  ladies  and  the  un 
married  Yankee  officers,  and  the  formation  of  an  acquain 
tance,  were  inevitable.  Frequent  and  mutually  agreeable 
conferences  soon  followed,  and 

"  All  went  merry  as  a  marriage  bell." 

But  alas  !  there  are  affairs  which  never  do  run  smooth.  This 
happy  triplicate  flirtation  was  suddenly  and  sadly  terminated 
in  the  following  manner:  One  evening  while  Maj.  C.,  Capt. 
L.,  and  Capt.  M.,  of  Div.  Staff,  were  spending  a  pleasant  hour 
in  Mr.  Raynor's  parlor,  I  think  pursuant  to  invitation,  and 
while  "joy  was  unconfined,"  the  company  was  unexpectedly 
augmented  by  the  abrupt  entrance  of  several  native  beaux, 
in  tinseled  gray,  just  "mustered  out"  of  Johnston's  army 
by  Gen.  Sherman  ! ! !  Fancy  the  embarrassment !  Our  offi 
cers,  doubtless,  felt  unpleasantly  at  being  the  unwilling  wit 
nesses  of  wounded  pride.  The  rebel  officers  experienced  an 
acute  realization  of  the  presence  of  their  conquerors,  and  dis 
appointment  at  finding  their  fair  favorites  entertaining  those 
detested  Yankees,  whom,  at  the  late  parting,  they  had  so 
eloquently  anathematized.  The  ladies  were  still  more  per 
plexed.  Their  former  associates,  whom  they  esteemed,  had 
discovered,  in  their  conduct,  an  indication  of  a  lack  of  con 
stancy,  or  at  least  a  want  of  fidelity  to  the  Confederate  cause. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  117TH  B.  N.   Y.   V.  219 

To  reinstate  themselves,   they   must  instantly   cease  their 
attentions  to  the  gallant  and  comely,  (yet  alas !  transient) 
conquerors,  and  by  discarding  them,  however  trying,  thus 
exhibit  another  instance  of  feminine  duplicity.    They  now 
smiled  not  so  graciously  toward  their  Yankee  guests,  and  in 
a  few  minutes,  smiled  no  more  in  that  direction.     Union  offi 
cers  remarked  the  lateness  of  the  hour — Rebel  officers  con 
firmed  the  sentiment — Ladies  exercised  an  English  neutrality- 
Union  officers  quietly  retired,  wondering  and  asking  each 
other  whether  such  fickleness  is  an  infirmity  peculiar  to  the 
sex  ?  or  only  sectional.     It  was  nearly  ten  on  the  following 
morning,  before  those  fair  faces  lit  up  the  windows  and  porch, 
but  thence  came  not  the  customed  salutation.     The  Yankee 
officers  concluded  that  the  service  was  exceedingly  irksome, 
since  the  solution  of  Johnston's  army,  and  with  one  accord, 
wanted  to  go  home. 

Raleigh,  before  the  war,  was  an  aristocratic  town,  but  the 
leading  families  had  become  sorely  impoverished;  the  political 
and  financial  storm  had  scattered  them  like  leaves  before  the 
autumn  gale.    The  Episcopal  Church,  which  had  been  the 
vaunted  show-case  of  aristocracy,  had  experienced  a  sad 
change.     Many  of  its  families,  prompted,  no  doubt  by  con 
scious  guilt,  had  fled  ;  their  seats  were  vacant ;  and,  a  solitary 
one-horse  carriage,  a  plain  specimen,  behind  a  quiescent  nag, 
was  the  only  representative  of  the  grand  array  of  carriages,  which 
during  service  in  former  times,  had  occupied  the  three  sides  of 
the  block.    Though  the  glitter  of  aristocracy  had  departed,  its 
spirit  survived  and  lingered  amid  the  ruins.    A  rebel  officer, 
from  Johnston's  army,  on  being  asked  what  he  thought  of 
n  '  s  prospect  of  being  elected  to  the  office  of  Governor, 
provided  he  should  be  nominated,  replied,  "  To  be  sure,  the 


220  HISTORY  OP  THE  117TH  R.   N.   Y.   V. 

poor  would  vote  for  him  to  a  very  great  extent ;  but  no  gentle 
man  would  support  him."  As  if  there  were  still  two  distinct 
classes,  and  their  interests  were  yet  antagonistic,  or  at  least 
distinct.  The  wealthy  had  suffered  severely  from  the  annoy 
ance  of  dependent  friends  and  poor  relations,  which  Irving 
mentions  as  one  of  the  ills  of  the  English  aristocracy,  and 
which  will  always  accompany  a  popular  contempt  for  labor. 
"What  in  one  instance  was  regarded  as  a  friendly  call,  had  ex 
tended  to  a  five-year  visit,  the  useless  guest  betraying  still  no 
symptoms  of  exhaustion.  The  Clergy,  who  had  done  as  much 
to  promote  the  rebellion,  as  those  in  the  North  had  to  main 
tain  a  sound  loyal  sentiment,  in  Kaleigh,  for  the  most  part, 
at  that  time  came  out  strongly  in  favor  of  graceful  submission 
to  the  rightful  and  re-asserted  government.  A  Baptist  Cler 
gyman  by  the  name  of  Skinner,  and  a  wealthy  man,  had  just 
returned  from  Europe  by  the  way  of  Washington.  Though 
his  words  and  deeds  had  previously  been  consonant  with  the 
interests  of  the  confederacy,  he  publicly  denounced,  from  his 
pulpit,  the  whole  enterprise  of  secession,  condemned  the 
leaders,  and  exhorted  his  fellow  citizens  to  works  "  meet  for 
repentance,"  toward  both  God  and  man.  The  Union  soldiers 
and  officers,  and  the  native  poor,  were  pleased  with  the  dis 
course,  but  the  prominent  citizens  sought  to  neutralize  the 
effects  of  the  discourse,  by  representing  it  as  an  intended 
antidote  against  personal  confiscation. 


HISTORY  OP  THE  117TH  B.   N.    Y.   V.  221 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 

MARCH  HOMEWARD  FROM  RALEIGH,  AND  THE 
FINAL  MUSTER. 

Preparation  of  the  Muster-rolls. — The  Regiment  Mustered  out  of  the  U.  S.  Ser 
vice. — Journey  by  Railroad  to  Hicksford. — Thence,  Regiment  Marches  to 
City  Point. — Thence  by  Transport  to  N.  Y.  City,  where  it  arrives  June  17th. 
— Thence  in  same  Transport  to  Albany. — 1 8th,  Take  Cars  for  Syracuse. — Train 
stops  at  Utica. — Reception  by  the  Citizens. — Proceeds  to  Syracuse. — Regiment 
Dissolved  on  the  28th. 

THE  latter  half  of  April,  and  the  month  of  May,  were 
spent  at  Raleigh,  by  the  regiment,  without  the  receipt  of  any 
official  assurance  of  an  early  release  from  the  service,  but 
with  the  1st  day  of  June,  came  a  rumor  that  the  117th,  and 
other  regiments  of  the  Brigade,  would  soon  be  allowed  to  go 
home.  At  the  same  time,  an  order  was  received  to  make  out 
the  final  muster  rolls.  The  late  recruits  and  the  younger 
officers,  were  to  be  consolidated  with  the  48th  R.  N.  Y.  Y., 
and  all  whose  term  of  service  would  expire  by  October  1st, 
were  to  go  home.  A  busy  week  followed,  officers  and  clerks 
wrote  night  and  day.  All  detailed  members  were  recalled, 
and  on  the  8th  day  of  June,  the  regiment  was  mustered  out 
of  the  Government  service.  The  morning  of  the  9th,  was  a 
bright  and  joyous  occasion.  The  prospect  of  visiting  home 
is  always  highly  enjoyed  by  the  soldier,  but  how  much  more 
so,  that  of  his  return  after  an  honorable  discharge  from  his 
15 


222  HISTORY  OP  THE  117TH  R.   N.   Y.   V. 

country's  service !  But  there  was  an  additional  and  peculiar 
satisfaction  in  this  muster  out,  derived  from  the  fact  that  the 
work  was  finished. 

The  117th,  consisting  now  of  scarcely  three  hundred  men, 
was  to  take  passage  on  board  the  cars  for  Gaston,  about  10 
o'clock,  A.  M.  A  party  of  men  in  charge  of  the  officers' 
horses  had  started  some  thirty  hours  before.  They  had  gone 
across  the  country  and  were  to  meet  the  regiment  at  Hicks- 
ford,  a  point  about  fifty  miles  North.  At  ten,  took  cars  and 
were  soon  under  way.  The  locomotive  was  asthmatic  and 
rickety,  as  though  its  functions  would  not  long  survive  the 
Confederacy.  The  rolling  stock  was  uncomfortably  defective, 
so  that  the  traveling  conveniences  were  meager,  but  it  was 
much  better  than  marching,  and  even  the  latter,  under  the 
circumstances,  would  have  been  no  great  hardship. 

By  4  P.  M.  reached  Gaston,  having  made  about  thirty 
miles.  At  Raleigh,  we  had  heard  so  much  of  Gaston,  that 
some  had  looked  forward  to  it  as  a  comfortable  stopping  place 
tor  the  traveler.  Some  anticipated  a  warm  reception  and  a 
good  meal,  at  a  first  class  Hotel ;  perhaps  a  good  bed,  white 
sheets,  &c.  Imagine  the  surprise  of  many  and  the  disap 
pointment  of  a  few,  on  discovering  that  Gaston  consists  of 
about  two  buildings,  separated  by  the  Roanoke  River,  one,  a 
government  store-house,  the  other  a  cheap  tenement  occupied 
by  a  negro  family.  The  disappointment  was  the  greater  be 
cause  the  anticipated  accommodations  were  rendered  more 
necessary  by  a  smart  rain,  which  set  in  just  before  we  reached 
the  river. 

Since  the  destruction  of  the  great  bridge,  which  had  but 
recently  occurred,  the  crossing  was  made  by  means  of  a  rude 


HISTORY   OF   THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V.  223 

flat  boat,  of  which  the  principal  resident,  the  negro,  was  cap 
tain  "and  all  hands."  In  three  trips  he  transferred  the  regi 
ment  to  the  north  side.  While  the  first  two  trips  were  being 
made  the  officers  found  shelter  from  the  rain  in  the  house  of 
the  ferryman.  A  young  man  and  a  young  woman  of  color, 
were  among  the  inmates.  Having  a  partiality  for  each  other,, 
and  being  matrimonially  inclined,  tlrey  were  married,  by 
Chaplain  Jones. 

About  dark  we  reached  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  and 
again  took  cars  for  Hicksford.  We  arrived  there  about 
midnight.  It  is  a  small  village,  presenting  few  indications  of 
prosperity.  The  bridges  and  railroad  having  been  much 
damaged  north  of  this  point,  the  troops  were  obliged  to  march 
thence.  We  were  about  three  days  performing  the  march 
from  this  place  to  City  Point.  We  passed  over  a  desolate  and 
unpromising  region.  The  land  suffered  for  cultivation  and 
the  inhabitants  for  culture.  One  night,  encamped  on  the  prem 
ises  of  a  Mr.  Hill,  who  had  seven  daughters,  whose  ages  ranged 
from  three  years  to  twenty-two  ;  the  eldest,  who  was  most  ad 
vanced  in  book  knowledge,  could  read  with  difficulty  in  a 
primer.  This  was  a  sample  of  the  greater  part  of  the  popula 
tion.  Reached  City  Point  on  the  14th.  Took  passage  on  a 
small  steam-boat  for  Fort  Monroe.  There  took  passage  on 
board  of  Transport  "  Edward  Everett"  for  New  York  City ;  ar 
rived  there  on  Sunday,  the  17th;  reached  Albany  the  18th,  and 
took  cars  for  Syracuse.  On  the  way  stopped  a  short  time  at  Utica. 

An  extract  from  the  Utica  Morning-  Herald,  of  the  follow 
ing  day,  thus  describes  the  reception  at  that  place. 

"It  was  not  far  from  half-past  six  when  the  train,  bearing 
the  boys  in  blue,  came  in  sight.  It  was  composed  of  the 
baggage  cars  and  nine  passenger  coaches,  the  rear  one  being 


224  HISTORY   OP  THE    117TH   E.   N.    Y.   V. 

used  by  the  officers  of  the  regiment.  When  a  halt  was  made, 
a  rush  commenced  for  the  train,  and  amid  the  firing  of  the 
old  Citizen's  Corps  gun,  and  "Home,  Sweet  Home/'  from  the 
Utica  City  Band,  the  gallant  boys  of  the  117th,  were  received 
by  their  friends.  As  soon  as  possible,  they  were  out  of  the 
cars,  and  under  the  leadership  of  Col.  McQuade,  formed  in 
line  and  marched  to  the  west  end  of  the  depot,  where  they 
were  formally  welcomed,  by  HON.  ROSCOE  CONKLTNG,  in  the 
following  appropriate  and  eloquent  manner. 

THE  ADDRESS  OF  WELCOME. 

Soldiers  and  Fellow- Citizens: — The  Committee  of  Arrange 
ments  has  assigned  to  me  the  honor  of  bidding  you  welcome 
home  again — welcome  to  those  homes  which  your  valor  has 
defended  and  preserved.  In  the  name  of  the  people  of  this 
city,  and  of  the  committee,  I  assure  you  that  the  heartiest 
welcome  they  can  give  is  offered  to  you,  as  neighbors  and  as 
victorious  soldiers  of  the  Republic.  Three  years  ago  fear 
was  everywhere.  No  home  was  safe ;  strong  men  bowed 
themselves ;  our  government  tottered  ;  our  flag  was  derided 
and  dishonored  on  land  and  on  sea,  and  foreign  nations  were 
casting  lots  for  our  vesture.  Then  it  was,  at  the  country's 
call,  that  you  left  fireside  and  home,  for  the  camp,  the  trench 
and  the  hospital — then  it  was  that  you  went  out  to  defend,  on 
far  distant  battle-fields,  the  life  and  glory  of  your  country. 
You  have  done  your  whole  duty.  You  have  passed  marches 
more  dreadful  than  battles.  You  have  conquered  in  fights 
which  will  be  historic  forever.  You  have  belonged  to  the 
most  glorious  army  that  ever  assembled  on  earth,  and  of  that 
army  you  were  the  first  regiment  of  all,  to  plant  the  glorious 
ensign  of  the  Republic  on  the  battered  parapet  of  Fort  Fisher. 


HISTORY   OP   THE    117TH   B.    N.    Y.    V.  225 

(Cheers.)  In  all  this  career  of  glory,  of  duty,  and  of  daring 
exploit,  a  common  purpose  has  inspired  you,  a  common  hope 
has  led  you  on.  What  was  it?  Peace.  Peace  with  the 
Government  and  the  constitution  our  fathers  established,  has 
been  the  object  of  the  war,  and  the  prayer  of  every  patriot 
and  of  every  soldier.  We  have  all  longed  for  the  time,  when 
you  who  are  fathers,  and  you  who  are  sons,  you  who  are 
husbands,  and  you  who  are  brothers,  and  you  who  are  lovers, 
should  return  once  more  to  gladden  the  places  which  have 
been  lonesome  and  desolate  without  you. 

That  time,  at  last,  has  come,  and  on  this  burning  Sabbath 
day  have  gone  up,  and  on  every  Sabbath  will  go  up,  from  the 
Christian  altars  of  the  land,  praises  and  thanksgivings,  that 
at  last  the  red  eye  of  battle  is  closed,  and  prayers  that  it 
never  again  may  open,  and  above  all  that  it  may  never  open 
on  the  dis-United  States  of  America.  This  glorious  advent 
of  peace,  comes  of  the  services  rendered  by  you  and  by  your 
comrades  in  arms ;  and  you  deserve  to  be  decorated  with 
heroic  honors  for  conspicuous  bravery  on  burning  battle-fields, 
where  all  were  brave.  You  deserve,  as  you  receive,  the  grat 
itude  of  your  neighbors,  the  thanks,  the  blessings  and  the 
benedictions  of  the  good,  the  generous  and  the  true.  But  I 
will  not  detain  you.  It  is  the  Sabbath  day,  when,  even  if  you 
were  not  weary  with  travel,  rest  and  quiet  would  be  congen 
ial  to  you  and  to  those  who  have  come  to  greet  you. 

Kind  hands  have  provided  such  tributes  of  hospitality  and 
thoughtfulness,  as  the  notice  of  your  coming  has  allowed ; 
and  now,  in  the  name  of  this  vast  multitude,  in  the  name  of 
the  whole  people  of  Utica,  in  the  name  of  the  whole  people 
of  Oneida  County,  I  assure  you,  once  more,  that  a  welcome 
and  a  God-bless-you  is  in  the  hearts,  if  not  on  the  lips,  of  all, 
the  young  and  the  old. 


226  HISTORY   OF   THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V. 

REPLY   OF   GENERAL   DAGGETT. 

General  Daggett  responded,  in  substance,  as  follows : 

The  General  said  he  would  not  attempt  a  formal  reply,  but 
could  not  consent  to  let  the  occasion  pass  without  an  ac 
knowledgment  of  the  beautiful  reception,  and  glowing 
welcome,  and  the  graceful  and  bountiful  repast  which  had 
been  prepared.  He  said,  and  speaking  for  his  brother  officers 
and  the  entire  regiment,  as  well  as  for  himself,  that  he  wished 
to  express  to  the  committee,  and  through  them  to  the  people 
of  the  city  and  county,  their  warmest  acknowledgments  for 
the  interest  and  generosity  which  had  been  evinced  toward 
the  regiment,  not  only  at  this  time,  but  always  since  its  organ 
ization.  They  would  all  ever  cherish  and  treasure  the 
memory  of  manifold  kindnesses  and  courtesies  for  which  the 
117th  were  indebted  to  the  people  of  Utica  and  of  Oneida 
county. 

At  the  close  of  the  addresses,  the  soldiers  executed  a 
"  right  about,"  and  curiously  enough  faced  the  tables.  Nor 
did  a  man  flinch.  Who  ever  heard  that  a  soldier  of  the  117th 
did  that  ?  There  was  nothing  of  the  ceremonious  about  that 
meal,  yesterday.  We  think  the  soldier  boys  enjoyed  it.  We 
that  looked  on  did,  at  least.  For  an  hour,  perhaps,  eating 
was  in  order,  and  when  at  last,  as  we  trust,  each  man  was 
satisfied,  the  board  was  by  no  means  "swept."  More  than 
the  old  scriptural  number  of  "  seven  baskets  "  full  remained. 
The  overplus  was  distributed  between  the  Orphan  Asylums 
of  the  city. 

But  the  orders  to  be  "marching  on"  are  imperative,  and 
with  the  last  farewell  spoken,  the  boys  again  took  to  the  cars, 
bound  for  Syracuse. 


HISTORY  OP  THE    117TH  R.   N.   Y.   V.  227 

Such  was  our  reception  of  the  war-worn  heroes  of  the 
117th  regiment.  If  by  this  demonstration  they  infer  our 
appreciation  of  their  services  in  subduing  rebellion,  and  our 
joy  at  their  return,  no  other  reward  is  sought.  Still  to  the 
Committee  of  Arrangements,  and  their  efficient  Chairman, 
Hon.  Alrick  Hubbell,  and  the  ladies  who  assisted  so  faithfully, 
too  much  credit  cannot  be  awarded.  The  success  of  the  re 
ception  is  their  best  praise." 

The  list  of  Regimental  Officers,  at  the  time  of  its  return, 
was  as  follows: 

FIELD  AND   STAFF. 

Colonel — Rufus  Daggett,  Brevet  Brig.  Gen. 
Lieutenant  Colonel — F.  X.  Meyers. 
Major — Egbert  Bagg. 
Surgeon — J.  A.  Mowris. 
Chaplain — J.  D.  Jones. 
Assistant  Surgeon — W.  F.  Day. 
Quarter  Master — W.  E.  Richards. 

Adjutant — Charles  H.  Roys,  transferred  to  48th  N.  Y.  V., 
and  now  A.  C.  M. 

LINE  OFFICERS. 

Co.  A — Captain,  D.  B.  Magill,  home  wounded ;  1st  Lieut., 
G.  W.  Ross;  2d  Lieut.,  E.  M.  Shorey,  commanding  company. 

Co.  B — Captain,  Harrison  Pease ;  1st  Lieut.,  John  G. 
Glazier ;  2d  Lieut.,  F.  W.  Olmsted. 

Co.  C — 1st  Lieut.,  E.  G.  Skinner,  acting  Adjutant;  2d 
Lieut.,  M.  E.  Johnson,  commanding  company. 

Co.  D — Captain,  F.  H.  Lay ;  1st  Lieut.,  H.  L.  Adams,  on 
detached  service. 

Co.  E — Captain,  Wm.  L.  Bartholomew ;  1st  Lieut,  Wm. 
E.  Pease;  2d  Lieut.,  F.  E.  Boden. 

Co.  F— Captain,  Wm.  L.  Hurlbert,  A.  D.  C.  on  Major 
General  Terry's  staff;  1st  Lieut.,  Adelbert  Ecker,  command 
ing  company. 


228  HISTORY  OP  THE  117TH  R.   N.    Y.   V. 

Co.  G — Captain,  Algernon  E.  Smith,  A.  D.  C.,  home 
wounded. 

Co.  H — Captain,  Almon  R.  Stephens ;  1st  Lieut.,  J.  H. 
Fairbanks,  commanding  company. 

Co.  I— Captain,  E.  Downer,  transferred  to  48th  N.  Y.  Y., 
1st  Lieut.,  L.  J.  Carver,  commanding  Co.  C  ;  2d  Lieut.,  H. 
D.  Grant,  transferred  to  48th  N.  Y.  Y. 

Co.  K— Captain,  A.  M.  Erwin,  transferred  to  48th  N.  Y.  Y., 
and  now  A.  C.  M. ;  1st  Lieut.,  Robert  "Bryan,  commanding 
company 

NON-COMMISSIONED   STAFF. 

Sergt.  Major,  G.  B.  Fairhead,  commissioned  2d  Lieut.,  but 
not  mustered. 

Quartermaster  Sergeant,  Jos.  D.  Monroe. 

Commissary  Sergeant,  John  B.  Wicks. 

Hospital  Steward,  Henry  N.  Marchisi. 

Principal  Musician,  Jacob  Irvin. 

Principal  Musician,  John  S.  Fairhead. 

Additional  regimental  statistics  may  be  thus  presented. 

The  following  are  the  casualties  in  the  117th  N.  Y.  Yols., 
from  August,  1862,  to  June,  1865  ; 

Missin  Transfd 

Total. 

41 

39 
45 
48 
42 
54 
47 
44 
63 
60 

85    154    198    21    25    483 


Co. 

Killed 
in 
action. 

a 

Died 
of 
wounds. 

13 

Disch'd 
for 
disability. 

18 

Missing 
in 
action. 

-I 

Transfd 
to 
V.  R.  C. 

q 

£ 

J.O 

18 

J.O 

in 

JL 
1 

4 

rj 

6 

18 

4 

6 

-  6 

16 

21 

5 

19 

Ifi 

Q 

13 

12 

9^ 

4 

_  7 

14 

90 

9 

9 

H- 

T 

10 

15 
17 

19 

Qf) 

9 

Q 

TT 

-  8 

97 

19 

6 

HISTORY  OP  THE    117TH  R.   N.   Y.   V.  229 

The  117th  left  with  1,020  men,  and  returned  with  315.  At 
intervals,  during  '63-4-5,  it  received  about  500  recruits  in 
the  aggregate.  Of  these  about  250  were  transferred  to  the 
40th  N.  Y.  Yols.,  of  which  150  were  effective,  the  others 
being  in  hospital,  sick.  Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  the  regiment 
lost  during  its  term  of  service  about  1,000  men. 

The  casualties  of  the  regiment,  in  some  of  its  prominent 
battles,  were  as  follows : 

Drury's  Bluff,  May,  1864,  -  *  -        81 

Taking  of  Petersburg  Heights,  June  15, 1864,  24 

Siege  of  Petersburg,  -      132 

Chapin's  Farm,  September  29,  1864,   -  -      130 

Darbytown  Road,  October  27, 1864,    -  52 

Fort  Fisher,  January  15, 1865,  95 . 

After  spending  about  ten  tedious  days  in  camp,  at  Syracuse, 
the  remaining  members  of  the  regiment,  were  paid  off  and 
honorably  discharged  the  service.  This  final  muster-out  is 
dated  June  28th,  1865.  From  that  time,  the  117th  ceased  to 
be,  except  in  History,  where  its  name  is  indelibly  inscribed. 

The  final  ceremonies  were  an  appropriate  address  by  Gen. 
Daggett,  and  the  general  interchange  of  the  parting  saluta 
tion.  These  done,  all  repaired  to  their  homes,  rejoicing  in 
the  triumph  of  RIGHT  and  in  the  return  of  PEACE. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  117TH  B.   N.   Y.   V.  231 

STATISTICAL   HISTORY 

OF  THE 

117TH  REGIMENT  N.  Y.  VOLUNTEERS. 


FIELD    AND    STAFF. 

COLONELS. 

WILLIAM  R.  PEASE,  appointed  Aug.  15th,  1862-  Held  the  right  with  an  inde 
pendent  command;  during  Longs treet's  siege  of  Suffolk,  for  which  service  he  was 
highly  commended  by  the  Department  Commander.  Was  acting  Brig.  Colonel, 
at  Fort  Baker,  and  while  at  camp  Haskins,  near  Portsmouth.  Resigned  on  ac 
count  of  ill  health,  Oct.  5th,  1863.  See  pages  17  and  92. 

ALVIN  WHITE,  promoted  from  Lieutenant  Colonel,  May  1st,  1864.  Com 
manded  the  Regiment  at  Drury's  Bluff,  in  May,  1864,  on  the  Bermuda  line,  at 
Cold  Harbor,  at  the  capture  of  Petersburg  Heights  and  in  the  siege  of  the  city. 
His  health  failing,  he  resigned  July  18th,  1864.  Was  wounded  in  the  battle  ot 
Drury's  Bluff. 

RUFUS  DAGGETT,  promoted  from  Lieutenant  Colonel,  Aug.  23d,  1864.  Com 
manded  the  Regiment  during  a  part  of  the  time  of  the  siege  of  Petersburg.  Com 
manded  the  Brigade  in  the  battle  of  Chapin's  Farm,  for  which  signal  service  he 
was  Breveted  Brigadier  General. 

LIEUTENANT   COLONELS. 

ALVIN  WHITE,  appointed  Aug.  15th,  1862.  Served  in  the  Suffolk  campaign, 
and  in  the  siege  of  Charleston. 

RUFUS  DAGGETT,  promoted  from  Major,  May  1st,  1864.  Was  in  the  battle  of 
Drury's  Bluff ;  Col.  White  being  wounded  during  the  engagement,  Lieut.  Col. 
Daggett  promptly  took  command,  and  conducted  most  gallantly. 

.FRANCIS  X.  MYER,  promoted  from  Major,  Aug.  23d,  1864.  Commanded  the 
Regiment  on  Bermuda  line,  and  in  the  battle  of  Fort  Fisher,  at  which  place  he 
was  seriously  wounded ;  was  Breveted  Col.  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services 
on  that  occasion. 

MAJORS. 

RUFUS  DAGGETT,  appointed  Aug.  15th,  1862.  Served  in  Suffolk  campaign,  and 
in  siege  of  Charleston. 

FRANCIS  X.  MYER,  promoted  from  Captain,  May  1st,  1864.  Served  in  battle  of 
Drury's  Bluff,  Cold  Harbor,  and  at  assault  and  capture  of  Petersburg  Heights, 
and  in  the  siege  of  the  city. 


232  HISTORY  OF  THE  117TH  R.   N.    Y.    V. 

EGBERT  BAGG,  promoted  from  Captain,  Aug.  23d,  1864.  Served  during  the 
term.  Commanded  the  Regiment  in  the  battles  of  the  springing  of  the  Mine, 
(July  30th)  •  Chapin's  Farm,  (Sept.  29th) ;  New  Market  Road,  (Oct.  7th)  ;  and 
Darbeytown  Road,  (Oct.  27th).  Was  in  the  assault  of  Fort  Fisher,  and  on  that 
occasion,  was  seriously  wounded.  Was  Breveted  Lieutenant  Colonel  for  gallant 
and  meritorious  services  in  the  same  engagement. 

ADJUTANTS. 

JAMES  M.  LATIMORE,  appointed  July  26th,  1862.  Resigned  Adjutancy,  Sept. 
23d,  1862.  Was  promoted  to  Captain,  Oct.  21st,  1864. 

CHARLES  S.  MILLARD,  promoted  from  1st  Lieutenant,  Sept.  25th,  1862.  Served 
in  Suffolk  campaign,  siege  of  Charleston,  battle  of  Drury's  Bluff,  Cold  Harbor, 
assault  on  Petersburgh  Heights,  Bermuda  line.  Was  detailed  as  Aid  to  Gen. 
Hinks.  His  health  failing,  he  resigned  Sept.  29th,  1864. 

CHARLES  H.  ROYS,  appointed  Oct.  1864.  Served  on  Bermuda  line,  was  in  the 
battle  of  Fort  Fisher,  detailed  as  Chief  C.  M.,  Dept.  N.  C.,  and  Breveted  Major, 
U.  S.  V.,  for  gallant  conduct  at  Fort  Fisher. 

SURGEONS. 

EDWARD  LOOMIS,  appointed  July  29th,  1862.  Was  Brigade  Surgeon  during  the 
winter,  while  at  Fort  Baker,  D.  C.  Was  with  the  Regiment  constantly,  till  his 
resignation,  April  15th,  1863. 

HENRY  W.  CARPENTER,  promoted  from  Assistant  Surgeon,  May  1st,  1863.  Was 
Brigade  Surgeon  on  Staff  of  Col.  Alford,  on  Folly  Island.  Resigned  on  account 
of  ill  health,  Nov.  5th,  1864. 

JAMES  A.  MOWRIS,  promoted  from  Assistant  Surgeon,  Jan.  3d,  1865.  Served 
as  Brigade  Surgeon,  and  latterly  as  Medical  Director  of  2d  Division,  10th  A.  C. 

ASSISTANT    SURGEONS. 

SAMUEL  INGRAHAM,  appointed  Aug.  20th,  1862.    Resigned  Oct.  14th,  1862. 
HENRY  W.  CARPENTER,  appointed  Aug.  15th,  1862,  promoted  May  1st,  1863. 
JAMES  A.  MOWRIS,  appointed  Oct.  15th,  1862,  promoted  Jan.  3d,  1865. 
WARREN  E.  DAY,  appointed  June  21st,  1863. 

CHAPLAINS. 

JOHN  T.  CRIPPEN,  appointed  Aug.  15th,  1862.    Resigned  Feb.  16th,  1864,  on 
account  of  ill  health. 
JOHN  D.  JONES,  appointed  Aug.  22d,  1864. 

QUARTER  MASTERS. 

EGBERT  BAGG,  appointed  July  25th,  1862;  promoted  to  Captain,  Nov.  24th, 
1862. 
WILLIAM  E.  RICHARDS,  appointed  Nov.  24th,  1862. 

NON-COMMISSIONED  STAFF. 

SERGEANT   MAJORS. 

MILTON  BRAYTON. 

FRANCES  WALCOTT. 

ROBERT  BRYAN. 

GEORGE  B.  FAIRHEAD,  Jan.  1st,  1865. 


HISTORY  OP  THE  117TH  R.   N.   Y.   V.  233 

QUARTER  MASTER'S  SERGEANTS. 
WILLIAM  E.  KICHARDS. 
EVAN  G.  JONES. 

JOSEPH  D.  MONROE,  April  1st,  1863;  though  his  duty  was  arduous,  it  was 
always  cheerfully  and  promptly  performed. 

COMMISSARY   SERGEANTS. 

BENJAMIN  F.  MILLER. 

CHARLES  BAILEY. 

JOHN  B.  WICKS,  May  28th,  1864  ;  conscientious  and  faithful. 

HOSPITAL  STEWARD, 

HENRY  N.  MARCHISI,  Aug.,  1862  ;  was  continually  with  the  Regiment  till  the 
close  of  the  war,  and  always  had  the  neatest  Regimental  Dispensary  in  the 
Corps. 

MUSICIANS. 

JoHNBS.RFAiRHEAD,  }  Produced  the  best  drum  Corps  in  the  Army. 


The  following  named  were  not  members  of  the  Regiment,  till  joining  it  as  offi 
cers,  after  its  departure  from  the  County  : 

JAMES  A.  MOWRIS,  M.  D.,  appointed  Assistant  Surgeon,  Oct.  15th,  1862.  A 
native  of  Marbletown,  Ulster  County,  N.  Y.,  had  practiced  medicine  between  ten 
and  twelve  years,  became  Regimental  Surgeon,  January  3d,  1865. 

WARREN  E.  DAY,  M.  D.,  appointed  Assistant  Surgeon,  June  21st,  1863.  A 
native  of  Herkimer  County,  N.  Y.  A  recent  graduate. 

EDWARD  WARR,  appointed  Captain  May  1st,  1864.  Had  served  as  Captain  in 
the  1 4th  R.  N.  Y.  V.,  during  the  most  active  stage  of  the  McClellan  campaign. 
While  with  the  117th  was  severely  wounded  at  the  assault  on  the  Richmond  de 
fences,  on  the  Darbeytown  Road,  Oct.  27th,  1864.  The  wound  resulting  in  per 
manent  disability,  he  retired  with  an  honorable  discharge,  March  25th,  1865. 

JOHN  D.  JONES,  appointed  Chaplain,  (vice  John  T.  Crippen  resigned,)  Aug. 
22d,  1864.  A  resident  of  Oneida  County  and  a  graduate  of  Hamilton  College. 
Was  with  the  Regiment  till  its  muster  out. 

HARRISON  PEASE,  appointed  1st  Lieutenant,  Sept.  5th,  1862.  Had  served  in  the 
14th  R.  N.  Y.  V.  Was  promoted  to  Captain,  July  12th,  1864. 

The  following  original  members  became  officers  after  the  Regiment  left  the 
County ;  names  arranged  according  to  the  order  of  appointment. 

WILLIAM  E.  RICHARDS,  appointed  1st  Lieutenant,  and  Regimental  Quarter 
master,  Nov.  24th,  1862.  Possessing  a  rare  business  turn,  he  held  the  position 
till  the  Regiment  was  discharged. 

CORNELIUS  N.  BAKER,  appointed  2d  Lieutenant,  Nov.  24th,  1862.  Resigned 
Feb.  19th,  1863. 

JOHN  H.  FAIRBANK,  appointed  2d  Lieutenant,  Nov.  24th,  1863  ;  promoted  1st 
Lieuteuant,  May  18th,  1864;  breveted  Captain  for  gallant  and  meritorious  servi 
ces  in  the  assault  on  Fort  Fisher,  on  which  occasion  he  was  seriously  wounded. 


234  HISTORY  OP  THE  117TH  R.   N.   Y.   V. 

MILTON  BRAYTON,  appointed  2d  Lieutenant,  Apr.  1st,  1863 ;  resigneclJuly  26th, 
1863. 

BENJAMIN  F.  MILLER,  appointed  2d  Lieutenant,  April  1st,  1863  ;  wounded  at 
Cold  Harbor,  June,  1864  ;  resigned  Dec.  16th,  1864. 

EVAN  G.  JONES,  appointed  2d  Lieutenant,  April  1st,  1863  ;  died  at  Portsmouth, 
Va.,  July  12th,  1863.  (See  Obituary.) 

GEORGE  W.  Ross,  appointed  2d  Lieutenant,  Sept.  21st,  1863  ;  promoted  to  1st 
Lieutenant,  July  12th,  1864  ;  detailed  for  duty  on  Brigade  Staff,  where  he  served 
acceptably  till  the  close  of  the  war. 

WILLIAM  C.  CASSELMAN,  appointed  2d  Lieutenant,  March  16th,  1864  ;  killed  in 
action  at  Drury's  Bluff,  Va.,  May  16th,  1864. 

J.  KNOX  WILLIAMS,  appointed  2d  Lieutenant,  March  19th,  1864;  promoted  to 
1st  Lieutenant,  July  12th,  1864;  killed  in  action  at  Laurel  Hill  Church,  Va., 
Sept.  29th,  1864.  (See  Obituary.) 

SPENCER  C.  MYER,  appointed  2d  Lieutenant,  May  18th,  1864;  promoted  to  1st 
Lieutenant,  Aug.  24th,  1864. 

HENRY  L.  ADAMS,  appointed  2d  Lieutenant,  May  18th,  1864;  promoted  to  1st 
Lieutenant,  Oct.  23d,  1864;  was  taken  prisoner  on  the  Darbe)town  Hoad,  Oct. 
27th,  1864;  confined  in  Libby  and  Danville  prisons  about  three  months,  when  he 
was  exchanged. 

ADELBERT  ECKER,  appointed  2d  Lieutenant,  May  19th,  1864  ;  promoted  to  1st 
Lieutenant,  Nov.  30th,  1  b64. 

ALONZO  DENTON,  appointed  2d  Lieutenant,  May  19th,  1864  ;  severely  wounded 
in  action,  Sept.  24th,  1864  ;  resigned  Jan.  23d,  1865. 

WILLIAM  APPLETON,  appointed  2d  Lieutenant,  May  24th,  1864  ;  lost  one  eye 
from  wound  received  at  Drury's  Bluff  battle,  May  16th,  1864;  resigned  Sept. 
25th,  1864. 

EUGENE  C.  SKINNER,  appointed  2d  Lieutenant,  June  10th,  1864  ;  promoted  to 
1st  Lieutenant,  Nov.  30th,  1864 ;  wounded  in  the  assault  on  Fort  Fisher,  Jan. 
15th,  1865. 

WILLIAM  E.  PEASE,  appointed  2d  Lieutenant,  Jan.  29th,  1864  ;  promoted  to 
1st  Lieutenant,  Feb.  17th,  1865. 

JOHN  G.  GLAZIER,  appointed  2d  Lieutenant,  Aug.  22d,  1864  ;  promoted  to  1st 
Lieutenant,  Feb.  17th,  1865. 

ROBERT  BRYAN,  appointed  2d  Lieutenant,  Oct.  llth,  1864 ;  promoted  to  1st 
Lieutenant,  April  llth,  1865. 

LEVI  J.  CARVER,  appointed  2d  Lieutenant,  Dec.  2d,  1864. 

EBENEZER  M.  SHOREY,  appointed  2d  Lieutenant,  Feb.  17th,  1865. 

M.  L.  JOHNSON,  appointed  2d  Lieutenant,  Feb.  17th,  1865. 

F.  W.  OLMSTEAD,  appointed  2d  Lieutenant,  Feb.  18th,  1865. 

FREDERICK  E.  BODEN,  appointed  2d  Lieutenant,  May  12th,  1865. 


HISTORY  OP  THE  117TH  R.   N.    Y.    V.  235 


*ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  A. 

GEORGE  W.  BRIGHAM,  Captain ;  appointed  August  20,  1862 ;  severely  wounded 
at  battle  of  Drury's  Bluff,  May  16/64;  from  effects  of  wounds  thus  received, 
died  May  19/64.  See  pages  106,  107. 

ISAAC  H.  DANN,  1st  Lieutenant;  appointed  August  20,  1862;  killed  at  Cold 
Harbor,  Va.,  June  4,  1864.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  had  been  commis 
sioned  Captain,  but  had  not  yet  been  mustered. 

WILLIAM  L.  BARTHOLOMEW,  2d  Lieutenant;  appointed  August  20,  1862;  pro 
moted  to  1st  Lieutenant,  May  18,  1864  ;  promoted  to  Captain,  November  30, 
1864;  Breveted  Major  for  "gallant  and  meritorious  services/'  at  the  taking  of 
Fort  Fisher,  the  latter  promotion  dating  March  5,  1865. 


George  W.  Ross,  1st  Sergeant,  Utica,  July  23,  1862,  Merchant;  Promoted  to  2d 

Lieutenant,  September  1,  1863. 
Giles  Pullman,  Sergeant,  Utica,  July  18,  1862,  Carriage  Maker;  Reduced  to  the 

Ranks  September  30,  1863,  per  R.  S.  O.  No.  72. 
Eugene  C.  Skinner,  Sergeant,  Utica,  July  28,  1862,  Student;  Promoted  to  2d 

Lieutenant,  June  10, 1864. 
Charles  T.  Adams,  Sergeant,  Rome,  August  7,  Clerk;  Promoted  to  1st  Sergeant 

June  18,  1864,  per  R.  S.  O.  No.  11  ;  Wounded  Severely  September  29. 
Samuel  C.  Emery,  Sergeant,  Utica,  July  28,  1862,  Farmer;  Reduced  to  Ranks, 

December  1,  1863,  per  R.  S.  O.  No.  87. 
Monroe  Woolnough,  Corporal,  Utica,  July  28,  1862,  Manufacturer;  Died  of 

Disease,  October  29, 1864,  Fort  Annapolis,  Md. 
Emory  H.  Jacobs,  Corporal,  Utica,  July  18,  1862,  Carriage  Maker. 
George  Burkett,  Corporal,  Utica,  July  18,  1862,  Carpenter. 
Evan  G.  Jones,  Corporal,  Rome,  August,  4,  1862,  Student;  promoted  to  Q.  M. 

Sergeant,  November  22,  1862,  promoted  to  2d  Lieut.  April  1,  1863. 
Orrin  Comstock,  Corporal,  Utica,  August  21,  1862,  Laborer. 
George  W.  Brown,  Corporal,  Rome,  August  7,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to 

Sergeant  December  1,  1863,  killed  at  Fort  Fisher,  N.  C.,  Jan.  15,  1865. 
Adelbert  W.  Francis,  Corporal,  Rome,  August  7,  1862,  Miller;  promoted  to 

Sergeant  June  18,  1864. 
Alexander  McLean,  Corporal,  Rome,  August  7,  1 862,    Clerk ;    promoted  to 

Sergeant,  September,  30, 1863.     Taken  prisoner  May  16, 1864.  See  Appendix. 
William  Leetz,  Musician,  Rome,  August  7,  1862,  Tinsmith. 
Samuel  Irish,  Musician,  Utica,  July  24,  Laborer. 

•Nearly  all  those  not  accounted  for  in  the  Roster,  returned  with  the  Regiment,  or  were  consol 
idated  with  the  48th  R.  N.  Y.  Y. 


236  HISTORY   OP  THE  117TH   E.   N.   Y.   V. 

Thomas  V.  Comstock,  Teamster,  Utica,  July  29,  1862,  Carpenter;  transfered  to 

V.  K.  C.,  March  16,1864. 
Allen,  Samuel  Private,  Utica,  August  6,   1862,  Farmer;  died  January  25,  of 

wounds  received  at  Fort  Fisher. 
Ash,  Norman  D.  Private,  Home,  August  7,  1862,  Farmer ;  died  of  Diarrhoea, 

October  3,  1863. 

Anderson,  Edward  Private,  Utica,  July  26,  1862,  Brush  Maker; 
Ballou,  Thomas  C.  Private,  Utica,  August  6,  1862,  Wagon  Maker ;  Wounded 

16th  May,  1864. 

Barnard,  John  Private,  Rome,  August  7,  1862,  Farmer;  discharged  May  31/63. 
Carrier,  Myron  A.  Private,  Rome,  August  8,  1862,  Farmer;  deserted  July  8/63, 

at  White  House,  Va. 

Carrier,  Adelbert  L.  Private,  Rome,  August  7,  1862,  Farmer; 
Conlar,  Michael  Private,  Utica,  July  25,  1862,  Laborer; 
Collins,  James  A.  Private,  Rome,  August  7,  1862,  Farmer;  died  October  1863, 

after  being  discharged. 

Corbett,  Charles  Private,  Rome,  August  6,  1862,  Mechanic;  promoted  to  Cor 
poral,  June  18,  1864,  wounded  at  Fort  Fisher. 
Beard,  Robert  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  5,  1862,  Mechanic. 
Berg,  John  Private,  Utica,  July  25,  1862,  Laborer;  lost  eye  at  Fort  Fisher. 
Beeman,  Daniel  Private,  Utica,  July  30,  1862,  Farmer. 
Brown,  Judson  C.  Private,  Rome,  August  7,  1862;  died  January  5,  1864. 
Cummings,  Wilber  Private,  Rome,  August  7,  1862,  Farmer. 
Doliver,  Eli  Private,  Rome,  August  6,  1862,  Farmer. 
Earl,  George  T.  Private,  Rome,  August  7,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to  Corporal 

February  20,  1865. 

Eastham,  John  Private,  Rome,  August  5,  1862,  Mechanic. 
Edwards,  Henry  Private,  Utica,  July  22,  1862,  Laborer;  died  of  diarrhoea,  Feb. 

2,  1864. 

Evans,  Henry  Private,  Utica,  July  30,  1862,  Blacksmith. 

Evans,  Thomas  Private,  Utica,  July  31,  1862,  Clerk;  transferred  to  G,  at  organ 
ization  of  Company. 
Foster,  Edward  S.  Private,  Rome,  August  7,  1862,  Farmer;  died  of  typhoid 

fever,  July  24,  1863. 

Francis,  John  Private,  Rome,  August  7,  1862,  Laborer. 
Francis,  William  Private,  Utica,  July  28,  1862,  Farmer;  wounded  and  taken 

prisoner  September  29th,  returned  with  loss  of  one  leg. 
Francis,  Wm.  H.  Private,  Utica,  July  24,  1862,  Currier;  promoted  to  corporal 

January  30,  1864;  promoted  to  sergeant  February  25,  1865. 
Fuller,  Russell  Private,  Rome,  August  7,  1862,  Farmer;  discharged  for  promo 
tion  as  2d  Lieut,  in  6th  N.  Y.  H.  Artillery  June  12,  1864. 
Garlock,  James  Private,  Rome,  August  7,  1862,  Moulder. 
Griffith,  Evan  Private,  Utica,  July  30,  1862,  Rectifier. 
Halen,  James  Private,  Rome,  August  6,  1862,  Mechanic. 


HISTORY   OP  THE   117TH  R.    N.    Y.    V.  237 

Harrington,  Andrew  J.  Private,  Borne,  August  7,  1862,  Batcher;  promoted  to 

Corporal  December  1,  1863. 
Harrison,  William  H.  Private,  Rome,  August  7,  1862,  Painter ;  killed  at  Fort 

Fisher,  N.  C.  January  15,  1865. 
Harwood,  Leander  Private,  Rome,  August  7,  1862,   Tinsmith;  discharged  for 

disability  October  7,  1862. 

Hicks,  William  Private,  Rome,  August  7,  1865,  Ship  carpenter. 
Hobbs,  James  W.  Private,  Rome,  August  7,  1862,  Cooper. 
Hughes,  Edward  Private,  Utica,  July  24,  1862,  Farmer. 
Jones,  Griffith  Private,  Utica,  August  4,  1862,  Farmer;  died  of  diarrhoea  Sept. 

25,  1863. 

Lanning,  Alanson  J.  Private,  Utica,  July  21,  1862,  Farmer. 
Law,  Charles  B.  Private,  Rome,  August  7,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to  Corporal. 

September  30,  T863,  killed  in  action  at  Dury's  Bluff,  Va.  May  16,  1864. 
Law,  Frederick  Private,  Rome,  August  7,  1862,  Farmer;  killed  at  Fort  Fisher, 

N.  C.  January  15,  1865. 
Law,  James  Private,  Rome,  August  7,  1862,  Farmer;   transfered  to  V.  R.  C. 

October  1,  1863. 

Little,  Thomas  Private,  Utica,  July  19,  1862,  Farmer. 
Lynch,  Joseph  Private,  Rome,  August  7,  1862,  Laborer;    taken  prisoner  at 

Dury's  Bluff,  May  16,  1864,  exchanged  May  16,  1865. 
Lorenze,  Antone,  Private,  Rome,  August  7,  1862,  Farmer. 
Martin,  Frederick  Private,  Rome,  August  7,  1862,  Farmer. 
Mahaffay,  Robert  J.  Private,  Rome,  August  7,  1862,  Farmer. 
Meredith,  W.  B.  Private,  Rome,  August  7,  1862,  Farmer. 
Milligan,  William  Private,  Utica,  July  25,  1862,  Brick  layer. 
Miller,  Gilman  Private,  Utica,  July  28,  1862,  Farmer;  died  of  disease  at  U.  S.  G. 

Hospital  at  Fort  Monroe,  Va.  July  5,  1864. 
Morfit,  John  Private,  Utica,  July  22,  1862,  Laborer ;  discharged  for  disability 

December  22,  1864. 

Morris,  Griffith  A.  Private,  Utica,  July  22,  1862,  Coachman. 
Myler,  Lawrence  Private,  Utica,  July  24,  1862,  Farmer. 
Morse,  Wm.  R.  Private,  Utica,  July  22,  1862,  Fisherman. 
Nelson,  David  W.  Private,  Rome,  August  7,  1862,  Farmer. 
Newkirk,  Jacob  Private,  Rome,  August  7,  1862,  Farmer;  wounded  in  arm,  at 

Dury's  Bluff,  May  J6,  1864. 

Nevers,  Edward  Private,  Utica,  July  23,  1862,  Farmer. 

Owen,  Thomas  Private,  Rome,  August  7,  1862,  Farmer;  discharged  for  disa 
bility,  November  3,  1863. 

Owen,  John  Private,  Rome,  August  5,  1 862,  Mechanic. 
Pardee,  Adelbert  J.  Private,  Rome,  August  7,  1862,  Farmer. 
Pepper,  Frederick  Private,  Rome,  August  7,  1862,  Farmer. 
Philips,  Ira  Private,  Rome,  August  7,  1862,  Moulder. 

Picket,  Lewis  H.  Private,  Rome,  August  7,  1862,  Carpenter;  discharged  for  dis 
ability  December  22, 1862. 

16 


238  HISTORY  OF  THE   117TH  E.   N.   Y.   V. 

Polite,  Robert  Private,  Rome,  August  7,  1 862,  Farmer. 

Pallard,  Charles  S.  Private,  Rome,  August  7,  1862,  Farmer ;  promoted  to  Cor 
poral  February  20,  1865. 

Richard,  Wm.  E.  Private,  Rome,  August  7,  1862,  Accountant;  promoted  to  Q.  . 
M.  Sergeant  August  20,  1862. 

Robbins,  Sidney  Private,  Utica,  August  4,  1862,  Farmer. 

Roberts,  Riley  Private,  Rome,  August  7,  1862,  Farmer. 

Shorey,  Eben  M.  Private,  Utica,  July  24,  1862,  Painter;  promoted  to  Corporal 
September  1,  1862,  to  Sergent  September  23,  1863,  promoted  to  2d  Lieut.  Feb. 
18,  1865. 

Smith,  Charles  H.  Musician,  Utica,  August  1,  1862,  Clerk. 

Starring,  Adam  H.  Private,  Utica,  July  25,  1862,  Laborer. 

Stubor,  Rudolph,  Private,  Utica,  July  31, 1862,  Farmer ;  killed  at  Fort  Gillmore, 
September  29,  1864. 

Thayer,  William  M.  Private,  Rome,  August  7,  1862,  Moulder ;  promoted  to 
Corporal,  May  25,  1864. 

Thomas,  John  E.  Private,  Rome,  August  6,  1862,  Blacksmith;  died  of  diarrhoea 
October  27, 1863. 

Thomas,  Samuel  Private,  Rome,  August  4,  1862,  Farmer;  died  of  wounds,  Oct. 
14,  1864. 

Tillitson,  Albert  Private,  Rome,  August  7,  1862,  Farmer. 

Tipple,  William  Private,  Rome,  August  7,  1862,  Farmer. 

Wait,  Thomas  Private,  Rome,  August  5,  1862,  Mechanic. 

Whitney,  LaFayette  Private,  Rome,  August  7,  1862,  Cooper;  discharged  for 
disability. 

Whitney,  Perry  P.  Private,  Rome,  August  7,  1862,  Farmer. 

Wickham,  Edward  J.  Private,  Utica,  July  31,  1862,  Farmer  ;  promoted  to  Cor 
poral,  March  1,  1865. 

Wickham,  John  H.  Private,  Utica,  July  28,  1862,  Farmer. 

Williamson,  William  Private,  Rome,  August  5,  1 862,  Mechanic ;  never  joined 
company. 

Wilson,  Robert  Private,  Rome,  August  7,  1862,  Carpenter. 

1864. — All  are  Recruits  from  this  forward. 

Balcome,  Birney  H.  Private,  New  Hartford,  Febuary  17,  1864,  Farmer. 
Ford,  Lewis  Private,  Floyd,  Jan.  5,   1864,  Laborer;  deserted  June  9,  1864,  at 

Cold  Harbor. 

Shorey,  George  W.  Private,  Utica,  Jan.  4,  1863,  Laborer. 
Pratt,  George  W.  Private,  Utica,  Feb.  10,  1864,  Painter. 
Lovell,  James  Private,  Whitestown,  Feb.  1,  1864,  Farmer;  killed  at  Petersburg, 

Va.  September  6,  1864. 

Cook,  George  Private,  Utica,  Jan.  19,  1863,  Laborer. 
Kelley,  Daniel  Private,  Utica,  Dec.  28,  1863,  Mechanic. 

Van  Vleck,  John  H.  Private,  Utica,  Feb.  27,  1864,  Waiter ;  discharged  by  order 
of  Gen.  Dix,  January  25,  1865. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  117TH  B.   N.    Y.   V.  239 

Houston,  Alexander  H.  Private,  Utica,  August  8,1863,  Painter;  transfered  to 

Company  I. 

Alexander,  Walter  W.  Private,  Remsen,  August,  18,  1864,  Laborer. 
Buhanan,  John  Private,  Marcy,  August  22,  1864,  Fanner. 
Potter,  Charles  Private,  Marcy,  August  22,  1864,  Farmer. 
Wing,  Milton  A.  Private,  Marcey,  August  22,  1864,  Farmer. 
My  Ian,  Burnett  Private,  New  Hartford,  August  18,  1864,  Laborer. 
Meas,  George  Private,  Vernon,  September  7,  1865,  Farmer. 
Eeed,  James  Private,  N.  Y.  City,  January  12,  1864,  Carpenter. 
Fallou,  Jacob  Private,  Jamacia,  October  12,  1865,  Laborer. 
McDougall,  John  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  8,  1865,  Engineer. 
McCue,  Mathew  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  8,  1865,  Laborer. 
McGuire,  Charles  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  8,  1865,  Soldier. 
Burhard,  Joseph  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  8,  1865,  Baker. 
Morrell,  David  B.  Jr.  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  8,  1865,  Farmer. 
Gallagher,  James  B.  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  8,  1865,  Laborer. 
Mooney,  Stephen  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  8,  1865,  Farmer. 
Sherman,  F.  A.  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  8,  1865,  Clerk. 
Grary,  Patrick  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  8,  1865,  Laborer. 
Vonproff,  G.  Alolph  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  8,  1865,  Jeweler. 
Goslin,  John  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  8,  1865,  Laborer. 
King,  Charles  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  8,  1865,  Soldier. 
Bevine,  Thomas  Private,  Brooklyn,  March,  8,  1865,  Carpenter. 
Friske,  August  H.  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  8,  1865,  Seaman. 
•  Leiter,  George  Private,  K.  Co. 

Hamilton,  John  W.  Private,  Auburn,  March  4,  1865,  Hostler. 
Hill,  James  Private,  Canadaigua,  March  16,  1865,  Shoe  maker. 
Lagra,  Private,  Lockport,  March  21,  1865,  Laborer. 
Allen,  Rally  Private,  New  York,  November  15,  1864,  Seaman. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  B. 

J.  PARSON  STONE,  Captain,  appointed  Aug.  20th,   1862 ;  killed  at  Petersburg 

Heights,  Va.,  June  17th,  1864. 
HARRISON  PEASE,  1st  Lieutenant,  appointed  Sept.  5th,  1862;  promoted  to  Capt. 

July  12th,  1864. 
WILLIAM  L.  HURLBEKT,  2d  Lieutenant,  appointed  Aug.  20th,  1862  ;  promoted 


240  HISTORY  OF  THE   117TH  B.   N.   Y.   V. 

to  1st  Lieutenant  March  26th,  1863 ;  promoted  to  Capt.  and  A.  D.  C.  on  Staff 
of  Gen.  Terry.     Was  subsequently  Brevt'd  Major. 


Cornelius  K.  Baker,  1st  Sergeant,  Utica,  Aug.  5th,  1862,  Shoemaker;  promoted 

to  2d  Lieutenant  Nov.  23d,  1862. 
William  E.  Pease,  Sergeant,  Utica,  July  17th,  clerk;  promoted  to  2d  Lieutenant 

July  29th,  1864. 

Fayette  W.  Olmsted,  Sergeant,  Camden,  July  26th,  clerk  ;  promoted  to  1st  Ser 
geant  Sept.  1st,  1864  ;  promoted  to  2d  Lieutenant  Feb.  18th,  1865. 
Robert  Robothom,  Sergeant,  Camden,  Aug.  8th,  Clerk. 

Joseph  E.  Marchisi,  Sergeant,  Utica,  Aug.  1st,  Watchmaker;  discharged  for  dis 
ability  June  5th,  1863. 
Nathan  Jeffrey,  Corporal,  Utica,  July  30th,  Farmer ;  deserted  at  Camp  .Morris 

Md.,  Nov.  9th,  1863. 

Albert  W.  .Parsons,  Corporal,  Camden,  July  26th,  Teacher. 
Elbridge  S.  Foskett,  Corporal,  Camden,  Aug.  8th,  Mechanic. 
John  T.  Jones,  Corporal,  Utica,  July  18th,  Wagon  maker;  promoted  to  Ser 
geant  Nov.  23d,  1862;  wounded  14th  of  May,  1864,  and  Jan.  15th,  1865. 
Perry  B.  Miller,  Corporal,  Camden,  July  28th,  Merchant;  promoted  to  Sergeant 

March  1st,  1865. 

Paul  Burnett,  Corporal,  Verona,  July  22d,  Glass  blower. 
John  M.  Orth,  Corporal,  Utica,  July  21st,  Tailor;  transferred  to  I.  C. 
Charles  K.  Baker,  Corporal,   (Jtica,  Aug.  5th,  Laborer. 
George  L.  Stevens,  Musician,  Camden,  July  28th,  Dentist ;  Co.  Fifer. 
John  F.  Horning,  Musician,  Utica,  Aug.  4th,  Bar  tender ;  Co.  Drummer. 
Henry  Way,  Teamster,  Utica,  July  30th,  Farmer. 
Adams,  Marcus  M.  Private,  Camden,  July  28th,  Farmer. 

Allen,  Henry  B.  Private,  Camden,  July  30th,  Laborer;  wounded  Sept.  29th,  '64. 
Bristol,  Joseph  Private,  Camden,  Aug.  5th,  Laborer. 
Barrott,  Adelbert  M.  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  8th,  Farmer;  promoted  to  Corporal 

Jan.  5th,  1863. 

Bortle,  Edward  C.  Private,  Verona,  Aug.  4th,  Carpenter. 
Ballou,  Charles  H.  Private,  Utica,  Aug.  6th,  Clerk ;  promoted  to  2d  Lieutenant 

in  39th  N.  Y.  Vols.,  Jan.  7th,  1864. 

Bushnell,  James  B.  Private,  Utica,  July  28th,  Mechanic ;  died  of  wounds  receiv 
ed  at  Fort  Gilmore,  Va.,  Oct.  14th,  1864. 

Babcock,  Duane  P.  Private,  Utica,  July  30th,  Carpenter;  discharged  for  disabili 
ty,  July  4th,  1863. 
Bernet,  Abner  Private,  Verona,  July.26th,  Glass  blower;  wounded  at  Ft.  Fisher, 

N.  C.,  Jan.  15th,  1865  ;  died  Jan.  26th,  1865. 
Buck,  Michael  Private,  Verona,  July  22d,  Glass  blower. 
Beebe,  Jacob  Private,  Camden,  July  28th,  Farmer ;  died  Nov0  2d,  Folly  Island, 

of  Typhoid  Fever. 

Cross,  Albert  Private,  Verona,  July  31st,  Farmer ;  died  in  hospital,  Sept.  1864. 
Cobb,  Frederick  Private,  Camden,  Aug.  1st,  Farmer. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  117TH  B.   N.    Y.   V.  241 

Craig,  James  Private,  Camden,  Aug.  9th,  Farmer. 

Clark,  Chauncy  B.  Private,  Verona,  Aug.  8th,  Fanner;  killed,  Sept.  29th,  1864, 
at  Fort  Gilmore,  Va. 

Dexter,  John  Private,  Camden,  July  29th,  Laborer. 

Divine,  Herbert  Private,  Utica,  July  31st,  Peddler. 

Dunton,  Daniel  D.  Private,  Camden,  Aug.  5th,  Farmer. 

Dolan,  John  Private,  Utica,  Aug.  2d,  Laborer;  wounded  severely,  D.  B.  May 
16th,  1864. 

Fenton,  William  H.  Private,  Camden,  July  30th,  Tinsmith  ;  died  from  physical 
exhaustion  on  Peninsula  raid,  Camp  Raskins,  Va.,  July  14th,  1865. 

Foster,  George  W.  Private,  Verona,  Aug.  4th,  Fanner;  wounded  May  16th,  at 
Drury's  Bluff,  Va. 

Goodrich,  H.  L.  Private,  Camden,  Aug.  6th,  Farmer ;  discharged  for  disability, 
March  14th,  1864. 

Glazier,  John  G.  Private,  Verona,  Aug.  8th,  Tinsmith ;  promoted  to  Corporal 
Nov.  23d,  1862,  Sergeant,  June  5th,  1863,  1st  Sergeant,  July  18th,  1863,  to  2d 
Lieutenant  Aug.  22d,  1864. 

Hunt,  George  T.  Private,  Verona,  Aug.  2d,  Carpenter ;  promoted  to  Corporal, 
July  1st,  1864, 

Hess,  George  Private,  Verona,  July  31st,  Blacksmith. 

Hawley,  John  F.  Private,  Verona,  Aug.  5th,  Laborer. 

Harrington,  Irving  M.  Private,  Camden,  Aug.  8th,  1862,  Mechanic;  promoted  to 
Corporal  Jan.  5th,  1863,  wounded  at  Deep  Bottom  Sept.  29th,  1864. 

Humphrey,  John  Private,  Utica,  July  22d,  1862,  Surveyor. 

Humphrey,  Richard  Private,  Utica,  July  24th, 41 862,  Farmer ;  wounded  at  Fort 
Fisher  Jan.  15th,  1865. 

Kurrskron,  Henry  Private,  Verona,  Aug.  8th,  1862,   Cooper. 

Knowles,  Wm*  C.  Private,  Verona,  Aug.  2d,  1862,  Locksmith. 

King,  Jay  L.  Private,  Verona,  July  22d,  1862,  Farmer. 

Lilly,  James  D.  Private,  Verona,  July  31st,  1862,  Glass  cutter. 

Lower,  Wm.  C.  Private,  Verona,  Aug.  8th,  1862,  Shoemaker;  promoted  to  Cor 
poral  March  1st,  1863,  died  of  fever,  June  22d,  1863. 

Longworthy,  R,  S.  Private,  Utica,  July  30th,  1862,  Farmer;  wounded  severely, 
May  16th,  1864. 

Lawton,  Monroe  Private,  Utica,  July  22d,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to  Corporal, 
Dec.  25th,  1863,  was  a  prisoner  from  Sept.  2Jth,  1864,  to  March  16th,  1865. 

Lilly,  Hertuir  Private,  Utica,  July  22d,  1862,  Glass  blower  ;  wounded  at  Deep 
Bottom,  Sept.  29th,  1864. 

Lathrop,  Geo.  W.  Private,  Verona,  Aug.  9th,  1862,  Farmer;  discharged  for  dis 
ability,  Jan.  13th,  1863. 

Mayby,  Edmond  R.  Private,  Camden,  July  30th,  1861,  Farmer. 

McGinnis,  Michael  Private,  Utica,  July  17th,  1862,  Laborer;  discharged  for  dis 
ability,  June  22d,  1863. 

Muller,  Francis  Private,  Vienna,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Glass  blower. 

McEntire,  Bruce  L.  Private,  Camden,  Aug.  8th,  1862,  Moulder;  severely  wound 
ed,  D.  B.  May  16th,  1864. 


242  HISTORY  OP  THE  11TTH  R.   N.   Y.   V. 

Morse,  Orson  Private,  Camden,  Aug.  9th,  1 862,  Farmer ;  discharged  for  disability, 

March  14th,  1863. 

Mason,  Charles  Private,  Utica,  July  21st,  1862,  Laborer. 
Norton,  Nelson  Private,  Verona,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Butcher;  transferred  to  I.  C., 

Aug.  24th,  1864. 

Percival,  Geo.  C.  Private,  Florence,  July  31st,  1862,  Farmer;  wounded. 
Parmellee,  Wm.  H.   Private,   Verona,  Aug.  4th,   1862,   Carpenter;  wounded 

severely,  Sept.  29th,  1864. 
Putney,  Simeon  F.  Private,  Verona,  Aug.  5th,  1862,  Glass  blower;  wounded 

May  16th,  1864,  Sept.  29th,  1864. 

Pollard,  George  E.  Private,  Utica,  Aug.  5th,  1862,  Clerk, 
Phalan,  Patrick  Private,  Camden,  Aug.  9th,  1862,  Farmer;  wounded  severely 

front  of  Richmond. 

Patterson,  John  Private,  Utica,  July  19th,  1862,  Hatter. 
Potter,  Vernon  J.  Private,   Utica,  July  21st,  1862,  Bookseller;  discharged  by 

S.  C.  W.  D.,  July  7th,  1863. 
Peck,  Reuben  U.  Private,  Camden,  Aug.  8th,  1862,  Farmer;  missing  since  June 

3d,  1864. 

Quance,  Gilbert  J.  Private,  Camden,  Aug.  6th,  1862,  Farmer. 
Rachner,  Frederick  Private,  Verona,  Aug.  4th,  1862,  Laborer;  killed  inaction 

June  30th,  1864,  Petersburg,  Va. 
Read,  Alonzo  J.  Private,  Verona,  Aug.  8th,  1862,  Painter;  discharged  Feb. 

24th,  1863. 
Simons,  Theo.  B.  Private,  Camden,  July  29th,  1862,  Farmer;  wounded  at  the 

Heights  of  Petersburg. 

Sperry,  Wm.  F.  Private,  Camden,  July  28th,  1862,  Mechanic. 
Starkweather,  Chauncy  W.  Private,  Camden,  Aug.  2d,  1862,  Cigar  maker;  trans- 

fered  to  I.  C.,  Sept.  18th,  1863. 
Spencer,  Geo.  W.  Private,  Vienna,  Aug.  5th,  1862,  Farmer ;  transfered  to  "H" 

Company. 

Samson,  Crosman  Private,  Camden,  Aug.  8th,  1 862,  Farmer ;  promoted  to  Cor 
poral,  wounded  Oct.  27th,  1864. 
Selly,  George  Private,  Rome,  July  22d,  1862,  Merchant;  wounded  severely  at 

Fort  Fisher,  lost  left  arm. 
Sherman,  Chas.  Private,  Utica,  July  17th,  1862,  Gardener;  returned  to  duty 

Feb.  2d,  1865. 
Skinner,  Robert  B?  Private,  Camden,  Aug.  18th,  1862,  Farmer;  died  Oct.  26th, 

1862,  Folly  Island,  S.  C. 
Skinner,  John  N.  Private,  Camden,  Aug.  8th,  1862,  Farmer ;  wounded  May  16th 

at  Drury's  Bluff;  on  Petersburg  line  and  at  Chapin's  Farm  Sept.  29th. 
Schlernitzaur,  Peter  Private,  Verona,  July  22d,  1862,  Farmer;  died  of  disease, 

Oct.  23d,  1864. 

Sibel,  Adam  Private,  Vienna,  Aug.  5th,  1862,  Farmer. 
Smith,  Wm.  T.  Private,  Verona,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Laborer;  died  July  12th,  1864, 

Hampton  Hospital,  Va. 


HISTORY  OP  THE  117TH  R.    N.   Y.    V.  243 

Spencer,  Andrew  W.  Private,  Vienna,  Aug.  5th,  1862,  Mechanic ;  transfered  to 
"H"  Company. 

Waldron,  Joseph  Private,  Camden,  Aug.  2d,  1862,  Laborer. 

Willis,  W.  Bradford  Private,  Camden,  Aug.  6th,  1862,  Mechanic;  taken  prison 
er  at  Bermuda  front,  died  in  prison. 

West,  Franklin  Private,  Verona,  Aug.  10th,  1862,  Laborer;  transfered  to  V.  R. 
C.,  March  1st,  1864. 

West,  Francis  K.  Private,  Verona,  Aug.  4th,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to  Cor 
poral. 

West,  Joseph  Private,  Verona,  Aug.  4th,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to  Corporal. 

Williams,  John  E.  Private,  Camden,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Farmer;  discharged  at 
organization  of  Eegiment. 

Worden,  Beriah  J.  Private,  Camden,  Aug.  8th,  1862,  Mechanic;  promoted  to 
Corporal  Jan.  5th,  1863,  to  Sergeant. 

Wood,  DewittF.  Private,  Camden,  Aug. 8th,  1862,  Mechanic;  promoted  to  Cor 
poral  Sept.  22d,  1863,  to  Sergeant. 

Williams,  Everet  E.  Private,  Utica,  July  22d,  1862,  Farmer ;  killed  at  Drury's 
Bluff,  May  15th,  1864. 

Wentworth,  Robert  H.  Private,  Verona,  July  22d,  1862,  Glass  blower ;  killed  in 
action,  Sept.  29th,  1864,  Deep  Bottom. 

Snyder,  William  Private,  Verona,  Aug.  2d,  1862,  Glass  blower. 

Marchisi,  Henry  Utica,  Aug.  2d,  1862,  Druggist;  Hospital  Steward. 

Adams,  Earl  Private,  Camden,  Aug.  6th,  1862,  Painter;  killed  front  of  Peters 
burg. 

Jeffers,  H.  D.  Private,  Camden,  Aug.  5th,  1862,  Farmer. 

1§64. — All  from  this  forward  are  Recruits. 

Cole,  William  H.  Private,  Utica,  March  9th,  1 864,  Farmer. 

Burdock,  Moses  Private,  Utica,  Jan.  13th,  1864,  Baker;  lost  thumb  in  May,  1864. 

Kellog,  Martin  Private,  Utica,  Feb.  15th,  1864,  Farmer. 

McKeaver,  Michael  Private,  Ltica,  Nov.  23d,  1864,  Farmer;  killed  in  action, 
May  16th,  1864,  Drury's  Bluff,  Va. 

Mansfield,  David  Private,  Utica,  Jan.  28th,  1864,  Boatman;  died  of  wounds  re 
ceived  at  Fort  Fisher,  N.  C.,  Feb.  llth,  1865. 

Pease,  Thomas  J.  Private,  Utica,  Dec.  23d,  1863,  Wagon  maker;  died  of  wounds 
received  Oct.  27th,  1864. 

Pickens,  George  W.  Private,  Utica,  3d,  1864,  Millwright. 

Reed,  Nathan  Private,  Utica,  Feb.  22d,  1864,  Farmer. 

Saunders,  Henry  Private,  Utica,  Feb.  15th,  1864,  Farmer;  died  of  disease,  Sept. 
29th,  1864. 

Tray,  Frank  Private,  Utica,  Dec.  28th,  1 863,  Farmer ;  taken  prisoner  at  Bermuda 
front,  died  in  prison. 

Tyler,  Ashbell  V.  Private,  Utica,  Feb.  29th,  1864,  Farmer;  wounded  at  Fort 
Fisher,  Jan.  15th,  1865. 

Wheeler,  Chars.  E.  Private,  Utica,  Feb.  3d,  1864,  Laborer. ' 

Bolan,  Michael  Private,  Utica,  March  24th,  1864,  Boatman. 


244  HISTORY  OF  THE  117TH  R.   N.    Y.   V. 

Jeffers,  Michael  Private,  Utica,  March  22d,  1864,  Laborer. 

Thompson,  Orin  F.  Private,  Utica,  March  21st,  1864,  Boatman. 

Mathias,  Frederick  Private,  Utica,  Feb.  24th,  1864,  Laborer. 

Kaufman,  Augustus  Private,  Utica,  Jan.  9th,  1864,  Brewer. 

Petre,  Nicholas  Private,  Rome,  Jan.  9th,  1864,  Carpenter. 

German,  Nicholas  Private,  Iloyd,  Jan.  17th,  1864,  Farmer. 

McDonald,  Wm.  Private,  Steuben,  Aug.  10th,  1864,  Clerk;  wounded  Oct.  27th, 

1864. 

Richard?,  Hugh  C.  Private,  Trenton,  Aug.  24th,  1864,  Farmer. 
Carl,  Peter  Private,  Tarrytown,  Feb.  5th,  1865,  Carman. 
Finerty,  Joseph  Private,  Tarrytown,  Feb.  5th,  1865,  Carman. 
Rogers,  John  Private,  Tarrytown,  Feb.  7th,  1865,  Carman. 
Watson,  Frank  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  8th,  1865,  Seaman. 
Sichler,  Charles  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  8th,  1865,  Harness  maker. 
Gowse,  William  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  8th,  1865,  Harness  maker. 
Marley,  Morris  Private,  N.  Y.  City,  March  8th,  1865,  Cooper. 
Artolof,  Philip  Private,  N.  Y.  City,  March  8th,  1865,  Shoemaker. 
Buck,  Harvey  T.  Private,  Goshen,  March  8th,  1865,  Shoemaker. 
Hug,  Antoine  Private,  Goshen,  March  8th,  1865,  Laborer. 
Gruther,  Ernest  Private,  Goshen,  March  8th,  1865,  Weaver. 
Fitzer,  Jacob  Private,  Goshen,  March  8th,  1865,  Guilder. 
Mulligan,  Dennis  Private,  Goshen,  March  8th,  1865,  Laborer. 
Regan,  Patrick  Private,  Goshen,  March  8th,  1865,  Laborer. 
Drumond,  Eugene  Private,  Schenectady,  March  6th,  1865,  Moulder. 
Smith,  Charles  A.  Private,  Schenectady,  March  6th,  1865,  Carpenter. 
Gould,  Charles  Private,  Schenectady,  March  7th,  1865,  Farmer. 
McCormick,  Wm.  Private,  Schenectady,  March  7th,  1865,  Laborer. 
Elkins,  Harvey  S.  Private,  Schenectady,  March  8th,  1865,  Minor. 
Farley,  James  Private,  Rochester,  March  22d,  1865,  Laborer. 
Hughes,  John  Private,  Auburn,  March  10th,  1865,  Boatman. 
Hartley,  William  Private,  Syracuse,  March  17th,  1865,  Laborer. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  117TH  R.   N.   Y.   V.  245 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  C. 

FRANCIS  X.  MYERS,  Captain,  appointed  Aug.  llth,  1862;  promoted  to  Major, 
May  1st,  1864;  promoted  to  Lieut.  Colonel,  Aug.  23d,  1864;  breveted  Col. 
for  gallant  and  meritorious  services  at  the  battle  of  Fort  Fisher,  on  which  occa 
sion  he  was  severely  wounded.  The  last  promotion  dates  from  March  3d,  '65. 

JOHN  F.  KERRIGAK,  1st  Lieutenant,  appointed  Aug.  llth,  1862  ;  promoted  to 
Captain,  Dec.  26th,  1863  ;  discharged  while  in  Department  of  Va.  and  N.  C., 
on  account  of  ill  health. 

FRANK  H.  LAY,  2d  Lieutenant,  appointed  Aug.  llth,  1862;  promoted  to  1st 
Lieutenant,  Nov.  24th,  1862;  promoted  to  Captain,  Feb.  17th,  1865. 


William  Appleton,  1st  Sergeant,  Utica,  July  21st,  1862,  Mason  ;  promoted  to  2d 

Lieutenant  May  21st,  1864  ;  wounded  May  16th,  1864. 
Philip  Ludwick,  Sergeant,  Utica,  July  21st,  1862,  Cigar  maker. 
Samuel  B.  Bancroft,  Sergeant,  Utica,  July  15th,  1862,  Jeweller;  reduced  to  ranks 

Aug.  13th,  1863. 
Isidu  Meyer,  Sergeant,  Utica,  July  28th,  1 862,  Coach  maker ;  discharged  May 

9th,  1863,  for  physical  disability. 
Dewitt  Kling,  Sergeant,  Utica,  July  15th,  1862,  Harness  maker;  promoted  to  2d 

Lieutenant,  May  llth,  1865. 
Albert  B.  Young,  Corporal,  Utica,  Aug.  2d,  1862,  Shoemaker;  killed  in  action, 

Fort  Fisher,  N.  C.,  Jan.  15th,  1865. 
Thomas  O'Donohue,  Corporal,  Utica,  July  24th,  1862  ;  promoted  to  Sergeant, 

Sept.  8th,  1863,  died  of  diarrhoea,  Oct.  5th,  1863. 

Frank  B.  Cole,  Corporal,  Utica,  July  16th,  1862,  Shoemaker;  promoted  to  Ser 
geant,  Nov.  1st,  1.864,  reduced  to  ranks,  July  1st,  1864. 
Thomas  Stafford,  Corporal,  Utica,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Tailor. 
George  B.  Merril,  Corporal,  Utica,  July  28th,  1862,  Clerk. 
T.  H.  Stewart,  Corporal,  Rome,  Aug.  7th, «*862,  Brick  maker;  transfered  to  V- 

R.  C.,  Oct.  19th,  1863. 
Wm.  H.  H.  Lindsley,  Corporal,  Rome,  Aug.  6th,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to 

Sergeant,  March  1st,  1865. 

John  Griffith,  Corporal,  Utica,  July  23d,  1852,  Tinsmith. 
Wm.  Hall,  Musician,  Utica,  Aug.  4th,  1862,  Waiter. 
Cyrus  Shall,  Teamster,  Utica,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Farmer;  wounded  on  Darbytown 

Road,  Oct.  27th,  1864. 

C.  S.  Benton,  Private,  Utica,  July  21st,  1862,  Painter. 
Armstrong,  Sidney  Private,  Utica,  July  25th,  1862,  Farmer. 


246  HISTORY  OF  THE  117TH  B.   N.   Y.   V. 

Ashley,  George  Private,  Westmoreland,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Burrell,  Joseph  Private,  Westmoreland,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Brown,  Andrew  C.  Private,  Utica,  Aug.  2d,  1862,  Farmer. 

Cornell,  Antone  Private,  Utica,  July  24th,  1862,  Sailor. 

Crocker,  Horace  E.  Private,  Utica,  July  19th,  1862,  Marble  cutter. 

Case,  George  Private,  Utica,  Aug.  5th,  1862,  Carpenter. 

Crocker,  Lewis  G.  Private,  Home,  Aug.  13th,  1862,  Marble  cutter. 

Colley,  Wm.  H.  Private,  Utica,  July  23d,  1862,  Mason  ;  discharged  March,  1862. 

Colledge,  David  Private,  Utica,  July  25th,  1862,  Farmer  ;  discharged. 

Corbett,  Adolphus  Private,  Westmoreland,  Aug.  6th,  1862,  Moulder;  discharged 

for  disability,  March  2d,  1863. 
Croshan,  John  B.  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Farmer;  transfered  to  V.  R. 

C.,  Oct.  19th,  1863,  wounded  Sept.  29th,  1864,  Fort  Gilmer,  Va. 
Croshan,  Daniel  B.  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Farmer. 
Conlin,  John  Private,  Hampton,  July  31st,  1862,  Farmer. 
Corkwell,  William  Private,  Utica,  July  30th,  1862,  Farmer;  missing  in  action, 

Oct.  27th,  1864. 
Carver,  Levi  J.  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  9th,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted'  to  Corporal, 

Oct.  22d,  1863,  to  Sergeant,  July  1st,  1864,  promoted  to  2d  Lieutenant,  Dec. 

2d,  1864. 
Foster,  Jesse  C.  Private,  Utica,  Aug.  4th,  1862,  Cooper;  promoted  to  Corporal, 

Aug.  13th,  1863,  wounded  Sept.  29th,  Fort  Gilmer,  Va. 
Fox,  John  Private,  Westmoreland,  Aug.  6th,  1862,  Moulder. 
Fox,  Madison  Private,  Utica,  July  25th,  1862,  Tinsmith. 
Foote,  John  B.  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  9th,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to  Corporal, 

March  1st,  1865. 

Foster,  Edward  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  9th,  1862,  Butcher. 
Griffith,  Richard  C.  Private,  Bridgewater,  July  24th,  1863,  Farmer;  wounded 

Sept.  29th,  1864,  Fort  Gilmer. 

Graves,  Frederick  A.  Private,  Westmoreland,  Aug.  6th,  1862,  Farmer. 
Gibbs,  Myron  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  9th,  1862,  Bookbinder. 
Hodges,  Henry  A.  Private,  Utica,  July  31st,  1862,  Farmer;  wounded  Sept.  29th, 

Fort  Gilmer,  Va. 
Hitchcock,  Edward  E.  Private,  Utica,  July  26th,  1862,  Farmer;  killed  in  action 

at  Fort  Gilmer,  Va.,  Sept.  29th,  1864. 

Hutchinson,  Alex  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Cigar  maker. 
Herbags,  William  E.  Private,  Utici?  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Butcher;   killed  at  Fort 

Fisher,  N.  C.,  Jan.  15th,  1865. 

Hartie,  Nicholas  R.  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Farmer. 
Hiller,  William  F.  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  9th,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to  Cor 
poral,  Nov.  28th,  1862,  to  Sergeant,  May  21st,  1864. 
James,  Morris  Private,  Utica,  Aug.  4th,  1862,  Shoemaker. 
Jones,  Thelwin  Private,  Utica,  July  15th,  1862,  Painter;  promoted  to  Corporal. 

July  1st,  1864,  wounded,  Sept.  29th,  Fort  Gilmer,  Va. 
Jones,  Jeremiah  C.  Private,  Utica,  Aug.  6th,  1862;  taken  prisoner  July  1864, 

died  in  prison. 


HISTORY  OP  THE  H7TH    B.   N.   Y.   V.  247 

Lane,  Peter  Private,  Westmoreland,  Aug.  4th,  1862,  Fireman ;  promoted  to  Cor 
poral,  Dec.  20th,  1862,  to  Sergeant,  Aug.  13th,  1863,  to  1st  Sergeant,  May 
21st,  1864* 

Lighthall,  Peter  Private,  Utica,  July  15th,  1862,  Clerk;  promoted  to  Corporal, 
Aug.  29th,  1862,  to  Sergeant,  Feb.  13th,  1863. 

Moon,  Peter  Private,  Bridgewater,  July  24th,  1862,  Laborer;  discharged  for 
physical  disability,  May  1st,  1863. 

Miller,  Ira  E.  Private,  Utica,  Aug.  4th,  1862,  Carpenter;  killed  in  action,  Oct. 
27th,  1864. 

Miller,  George  H.  Private,  Bridgewater,  July  29th,  1862,  Bookbinder. 

Merrill,  Lewis  Private,  Utica,  July  23d,  1862,  Farmer;  died  of  diarrhoea,  Oct. 
13th,  1863. 

Merrill,  Alfred  E.  Private,  Utica,  Aug.  1st,  1862,  Moulder;  promoted  to  Cor 
poral,  March  1st,  1865,  wounded  at  Petersburg,  July,  1864. 

Millar,  Christopher  Private,  Utica,  July  23d,  1862,  Farmer;  died  of  diarrhoea, 
Nov.  2d,  1863. 

Millar,  William  Private,  Bridgewater,  July  29th,  1862,  Farmer;  died  from 
wounds  received  at  Fort  Fisher. 

Median,  Aldert  J.  Private,  Utica,  July  31st,  1862,  Tinsmith  ;  transfered  to  Sig 
nal  Corps,  July  18th,  1863. 

Morris,  Fichael  Private,  Utica,  July  23d,  1862,  Laborer ;  discharged  for  disabili 
ty,  July  12th,  1863. 

Metcalf,  Francis  M.  Private,  Utica,  Aug.  2d,  1862,  Tinsmith ;  transfered  to  Sig 
nal  Corps,  July  18th,  1863. 

McElwaine,  Edward  Private,  Utica,  July  22d,  1862,  Clerk;  captured  Aug.  17th, 
exchanged — discharged  June  23d. 

Norton,  James  Private,  Utica,  July  28th,  1862,  Shoemaker ;  promoted  to  Corporal 
June  1st,  1864. 

Owens,  Lewis  A.  Private,  Utica,  July  19th,  1862,  Teacher;  transfered  to  V.  E. 
C.,  Oct.  2d,  1863. 

Philips,  Philip  Private,  Utica,  July  31st,  1862,  Clerk;  missing  in  action,  Sept. 
29th,  1864. 

Pagh,  David  J.  Private,  Utica,  July  31st,  1862,  Clerk. 

Petch,  Joseph  Private,  Westmoreland,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Tailor. 

Kollins,  Edward  Private,  Westmoreland,  Aug.  6th,  1862,  Carriage  maker ;  dis 
charged  for  disability,  Feb.  5th,  1863. 

Euddock,  Wm.  Private,  Utica,  Aug.  4th,  1862,  Moulder;  promoted  to  Corporal, 
Aug.  13th,  1863,  wounded  at  Darbeytown  Eoad,  Oct.  27th,  1864. 

Euddock,  Hiram  V.  Private,  Utica,  Aug.  4th,  1862,  Moulder. 

Eehrig,  Gasper  Private,  Utica,  Jmly  15th,  1862,  Shoemaker;  taken  prisoner, 
Aug.  25th,  1864. 

Stone,  James  S.  Private,  Utica,  July  28th,  1862,  Shoemaker. 

Snyder,  John  Private,  Utica,  Aug.  2d,  1862,  Laborer. 

Seely,  Benj.  F.  Private,  Utica,  Aug.  2d,  1862,  Farmer. 

Sanford,  Wm.  Private,  Utica,  Aug.  5th,  1862,  Confectioner. 


248  HISTORY  OF  THE  117TH  B.   N.    T.   V. 

Seely,  Lafayette  Private,  Westmoreland,  Aug.  6th,  1862,  Furnaceman. 

Seaman,  Warren  W.  Private,  Westmoreland,   Aug.  6th,  1 862,  Moulder ;  trans- 
fered  to  V.  R.  C.,  Oct.  19th,  1863. 

Stuber,  Benny  Private,  Utica,  July  19th,  1862,  Cigar  maker. 

Sears,  Christopher  C.  Private,  Utica,  July  31st,  1862,  Clerk. 

Shaw,  Henry  W.  Private,  Kome,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Farmer;  discharged  for  dis 
ability,  March  llth,  1863. 

Stephenson,  Joseph  Private,  Utica,  Aug.  4th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Tyler,  James  Private,  Westmoreland,  Aug.  6th,  1862,  Furnaceman  ;  discharged 
for  disability,  Oct.  8th,  1863. 

Tyler,  Frances  E.  Private,  Utica,  July  31st,  1862,  Cooper ;  died  of  diarrhoea, 
Oct.  12th,  1863. 

Tyler,  Nathaniel  Private,  Utica,  Aug.  1st,  1862,  Moulder;  discharged  for  disa 
bility,  Feb.  llth,  1863. 

Talcott,  Delas  0.  Private,  Utica,  Julyil7th,  1862,  Printer;  promoted  to  Corporal 
March  1st,  1864. 

Whitehead,  John  S.  Private,  Utica,  July  23d,  1862,  Butcher;  discharged  for  dis 
ability,  Nov.  20th,  1862. 

Wilson,  Aex.  Private,  Utica,  July  24th,  1862,  Painter;  transferred  to  V.  R.  C., 
Oct.  19th,  1863. 

Wishort,  Henry  M.  Private,  Utica,  July  31st,  1863,  Farmer. 

Whetmore,  A.  S.  Private,  Westmoreland,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Farmer;  discharged 
for  disability,  Jan.  13th,  1863. 

Wallace,  Isaac  Private,  Westmoreland,  Aug.  6th,  1862,  Moulder. 

Williams,  John  W.  Private,  Bridgewater,  July 31st,  1862,  Shoemaker;  discharg 
ed  for  disability,  Aug.  17th,  1863. 

Williams,  William  H.  Private,  Utica,  July  16th,  1862,  Printer. 

Wishart,  Thomas  Private,  Westmoreland,  Aug.  4th,  1862,  Farmer;  died  of  brain 
fever,  Aug.  16th,  1864. 

Whiffen,  James  T.  Private,  Utica,  Aug.  4th,  1862,   Cigar  maker;  missing  in  ac 
tion,  Oct.  27th,  1864. 

West,  Daniel  A.  Private,  Utica,  July  29th,  1862,  Gardener. 

Young,  Charles  Private,  Utica,  Aug.  2d,   1862,  Farmer;  died  offerer,  July 
12th,  1863. 

Fairbanks,  John  H.  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Cordwainer;  transferred 
"K"  Co. 

1864. — Recruits  from  this  forward. 

Fieday,  Martin  Private,  Utica,  Feb.  10th,  1864,  Cigar  maker. 

Murvin,  Richard  Private,  Utica,  Dec.  25th,  1863,  Cigar  maker. 

Pfahls,  Christian  Private,  Utica,  Feb.  22d,  1864,  Carpenter;  wounded  Darbey- 

town  Road,  Oct.  27th. 
Sabine,  Alfred  Private,  Utica,  Feb.  27th,  1864,  Tailor;  killed  at  Fort  Fisher,  N. 

C.,  Jan.  15th,  1865. 

Carr,  Joseph  Private,  Utica,  Feb.  29th,  1864,  Barber. 
Casselman,  Allen  F.  Private,  Utica,  Jan.  2d,  1864,  Blacksmith. 


I 
HISTORY  OP  THE  117TH  R.   N.   Y.   V.  249 

Kent,  Philip  J.  Private,  Utica,  Jan.  27th,  1864,  Butcher. 

Boyd,  Lewis  A.  Private,  Utica,  Feb.  4th,  1864,  Cigar  maker;  wounded  at  explo 
sion  of  mine  before  Petersburg,  July  30th,  1864. 

Bateman,  Marcus  Private,  Utica,  Jan.  5th,  1864,  Shoemaker. 

Douglas,  John  Private,  Utica,  Feb.  20th,  1864,  R.  R.  man. 

Edsell,  Charles  Private,  Sangerfield,  Feb.  9th,  1864,  Shoemaker. 

Hunt,  George  W.  Private,  Utica,  Feb.  9th,  1864,  Cigar  maker;  killed  at  Fort 
Fisher,  N.  C.,  Jan.  15th,  1865. 

Hurlbert,  Joseph  B.  Private,  Utica,  Jan.  llth,  1864,  Painter;  taken  prisoner  at 
Bermuda  Hundred,  Aug.  25th,  1864. 

Joice,  Thomas  Private,  Rome,  Feb.  27th,  1864,  Farmer;  deserted,  June 4th,  '64. 

Murley,  James  Private,  Utica,  Feb.  23d,  1864,  Painter. 

Malone,  George  Private,  Westmoreland,  Feb.  13th,  1864,  Farmer;  died  of  typhoid 
fever,  June  30th,  1864. 

McMahon,  Thomas  Private,  Utica,  Feb.  20th,  1864,  Shoemaker. 

Owen,  George  H.  Private,  Utica,  Feb.  llth,  1864,  Carpenter. 

O'Brien,  John  Private,  Utica,  Feb.  9th,  1864,  Cigar  maker;  promoted  to  Cor 
poral,  March  1st,  1865. 

Murphy,  John  Private,  Utica,  Jan.  5th,  1864,  Farmer. 

Morrin,  Richard  Private,  Utica,  Dec.  25th,  1863,  Cigar  maker. 

Dell,  Charles  H.  Private,  Utica,  Dec.  22d,  1863,  Farmer;  deserted,  June  4th,  '64. 

Briggs,  Charles  Private,  Utica,  Dec.  15th,  1863,  Carpenter;  missing  in  action, 
Oct.  27th,  1864 ;  died  in  rebel  prison,  Florence,  N.  C. 

Treen,  John  Private,  Utica,  Dec.  19th,  1863,  Horseman. 

Gassin,  James  K.  Private,  Marcy,  Dec.  22d,  1863,  Farmer;  wounded  at  Fort 
Fisher,  Jan.  15th,  1865. 

Johnson,  John  Private,  Trenton,  Aug.  29th,  1863,  Farmer. 

Mullins,  Francis  Private,  Schenectady,  March  8th,  1865,  Laborer. 

Green,  Nelson  Private,  Schenectady,  March  8th,  1865,  Farmer. 

Reynolds,  Geo.  T.  Private,  Schenectady,  March  8th,  1865,  Laborer. 

Ross,  Edward  Private,  Schenectady,  March  8th,  1865,  Farmer. 

Ford,  Albert  Private,  Schenectady,  March  9th,  1865,  Laborer. 

Wilson,  Frank  Private,  Schenectady,  March  9th,  1865,  Cooper. 

Buckhard,  Henry  Private,  Schenectady,  March  9th,  1865,  Laborer. 

Kermle,  Joseph  Private,  Watertown,  March  1st,  1865,  Waiter.      . 

Garby,  John  Private,  Watertown,  March  3d,  1865,  Laborer. 

Kieoman,  James  Private,  N.  Y.  City,  March  24th,  1865,  Butcher. 

Sedden,  Henry  Private,  Schenectady,  March  8th,  1865,  Farmer. 

Lawyer,  Charles  Private,  Schenectady,  March  8th,  1865,  Farmer. 

Hopkins,  Aaron  Private,  Lockport,  Feb.  28th,  1865,  Cartman. 

Jay  res,  Pembroke  S.  Private,  Lockport,  Feb.  28th,  1865,  Teamster. 


250  HISTORY  OP  THE  117TH  E.   N.   Y.   V. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  D. 
JOHN  M.  WALCOTT,  Captain ;  appointed  Aug.  12,  1862  ;  transfered  to  V.  R.  C. 

Nov.  20,  1863,  becoming  Captain  Company  G,  10th  R.  Inv.  Corps,  died  at 

Fort  Schuyler,  March  15,  1864. 
EDWIN  RISLEY,  1st  Lieutenant;  appointed  Aug.  12,  1862  ;  discharged  May  21, 

1863. 
DAVID  B.  MAGILL,  2d  Lieutenant ;  appointed  Aug.  12,  1862 ;  promoted  to  1st 

Lieutenant,  Sept.  1,  1863  ;  promoted  to  Captain,  July  12, 1864.    In  the  assault 

of  Fort  Fisher,  received  a  wound  which  involved  the  loss  of  one  leg.     For 

gallant  and  meritorious  service  in  that  memorable  battle  he  was  Breveted 

Major,  the  new  commission  dating  from  January  5,  1865. 


W.  C.  Casselman,  1st  Sergt.,  Rome,  Aug.  1, 1862,  Soldier;  promoted  to  2d Lieut. 

March  16,  1864. 
Wm.  J.  Evans,  Sergt.  Utica,  July  24,  1862,  Spinner;  promoted  to  1st  Sergeant 

March  16,  1864,  reduced  to  Sergeant  February  1,  1865. 
James  P.  Rowell,  Sergt.,  Sangersfield,  July  29,  1862,  Farmer;  discharged  for 

disability,  February  4,  1863. 
Robert  Bryan,  Sergt.,  Kirkland,  August  7, 1862,  Bookkeeper ;  promoted  to  Sergt. 

Major,  October  11,  1863. 
Newton  F.  Church,  Sergt.,  Vienna,  August  4,  1862,  Farmer;  died  of  measles, 

June  1,  1863. 
Geo.  B.  Fairhead,  Corporal,  New  Hartford,  July  27,  1862,  Teacher;  promoted 

to  Sergeant,  October  15,  1862,  commissioned  2d  Lieutenant  April  20,  1865, 

promoted  to  Sergent  Major,  January  1,  1865. 
Herman  Clooke,  Corporal,  Sangersford,  August  8,  1862,  Clerk;  promoted  to 

Sergeant  May  1,  1863,  promoted  to  1st  Sergeant  February  1,  1865,  promoted 

to  2nd  Lieutenant  March  30,  1865. 
James  Morrison,  Corporal,  Utica,  July  14,  1862,  Plumber;  discharged  February 

9,  1865,  on  account  of  wounds  received  September  29,  1864. 
Wm.  McNab,  Whitestown,  July  28,  1862,  Bleacher;  promoted  to  Sergeant  Nov. 

1,  1864. 
George  B.  Day,  Corporal,  Sangerfield,  August  8,  1862,  Clerk;  discharged  by 

order  of  Secretary  of  War,  March  27,  1864. 
Clark,  Annis  Corporal,  Utica,  July  28,  1862,  Farmer ;  died  of  disease  February, 

1865. 
James  Hinchliffe,  Corporal,  Whitestown,  July  31,  1862,  Butcher;  discharged  for 

disability,  February  4,  1863. 
W.  H.  H.  Balis,  Corporal,  Whitestown,  August  4,  1862,  Marble  cutter;  killed  in 

action,  June  15,  near  Petersburg,  Va. 
R.  Brigham,  Musician,  Utica,  July  28,  1862,  Cooper ;  discharged  for  disability, 

February  4,  1863. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  117TH  B.   N.   Y.   V.  251 

John  E.  Sawyer,  Musician,  Utica,  August  7,  1862,  Farmer;  K. 

S.  D.  Brown,  Teamster,  Sangerfield,  August  9,  1862,  Harness  maker;  B. 

Ames,  Wm.  L.  Private,  Stuben,  August  12,  1862,  Farmer;  discharged,  per  S. 

O.  No.  93,  A.  G.  O.  March  21,  1864. 

Allen,  Samuel  Private,  New  Hartford,  August  7,  1862,  Spinner;  B. 
Andas,  John  T.  Private,  Vienna,  August  12,  1862,  Farmer;  B.  promoted  to 

Corporal  March  1,  1865. 

Cassily,  J.  F.  Private,  Utica,  July  14,  1862,  Butcher;  B. 
Michael,  William  Private,  Utica,  July  14,  1862,  Machinist;  B.  promoted  to 

Corporal,  March  1,  1865. 
Johnson,  William  Private,  Utica,  July  17,  1862,  Boatman;  discharged  from 

hospital. 
Tables,  Edwin  E.  Private,  Utica,  July  21,  1862,  Machinist ;  taken  prisoner,  Aug. 

25,  1865,  near  Bermuda  Hundred,  Va.,  died  at  Salisbury,  N.  C. 
Woolner  Theodore  Private,  Utica,  July  21,  1862,  Shoemaker;   returned  from 

Hospital  after  Begiment. 
Glennin,  Dennis  Private,  Utica,  August  21,  1862,  Farmer;   discharged  from 

hospital.  • 

Goeble,  Charles  Private,  Utica,  July  21, 1862,  Upholsterer ;  discharged  from  hos 
pital. 

Mullen,  Lawrence  Private,  Utica,  July  22,  1862,  Laborer. 
McMahen,  Patrick  Private  Utica,  July  22,  1862,  Cabinet  maker. 
Oneil,  John  C.  Private,  Utica,  July  22,  1862,  Coppersmith;  discharged  Decem 
ber  23,  1862. 
Smith,  Henry  S.  Private,  Utica,  July  22,  1 862,  Farmer ;  discharged  per  S.  O. 

No.  122,  May  21,  1864. 
Judd,  James  H.  Private,  Utica,  July  22,  1 862,  Boatman ;  discharged  for  disability 

November  10,  1862. 

Kale,  Thomas  Private,  Utica,  July  23,  1862,  Farmer. 
Phelps,  Frank  Private,  Sangersfield,  Utica,  July  23,  Painter. 
Houies,  Peter  Private,  Utica,  July  23,  1862,  Cooper;  deserted  Sept.  12,  1862. 
Sayles,  Daniel  Private,  Utica,  July  23,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to  Corporal, 

February  1,  1865. 

Williams,  James  S.  Private,  Utica,  July  23,  1862,  Laborer. 
Jones,  Evan  Private,  Utica,  July  28,  1862,  Farmer;  discharged  for  disability, 

December  23,  1863,  reenlisted  August  17,  1864. 
Jones,  Bowland  E.  Private,  Sangersfield,  July  28,  1862,  Farmer;  deserted  Feb. 

8,  1863,  while  home  on  furlough. 
Powers,  Sylvester  Private,  Utica,  July  28,  1862,  Carder;  taken  prisoner  Sept. 

29,  1864,  returned  to  and  with  Begiment. 

Bowell,  Henry  S.  Private,  Sangersfield,  July  28,  1862,  Farmer;  B. 
Bo  well,  Andrew  T.  Private,  Sangersfield,  July  28,  1862,  Mechanic  ;  promoted  to 
Corporal  October  15,  1862  ;  to  Sergeant  May  18,  1863  ;  killed  in  action  Oct. 
27,  1864. 

Shipman,  Samuel  Private,  Sangersfield,  July  28,  1862,  Carpenter;  B. 
Brant,  William  Private,  Utica,  July  29,  1862,  Farmer. 


252  HISTORY   OF  THE   117TH  B.   N.   Y.   V. 

Jones,  John  H.  Private,  Sangersfield,  July  29,  1862,  Farmer. 

Brayton,  Milton  Private,  Western,  July  30,  1862,  Student;  promoted  to  Scrgt, 
Major  August,  1862. 

Curie,  William  Private,  Utica,  July  31,  1862,  Mill  operator;  discharged  No v 
18,  1862. 

Jones,  Thomas  R.  Private,  Utica,  July  31,  1862,  Laborer ;  died  of  wounds  re 
ceived  at  Drury's  Bluff. 

Giles,  Thomas  Private,  Sangersfield,  July  31,  1862,  Laborer;  discharged  Dec. 
22,  1862. 

Carry,  Michael  Private,  Sangersfield,  August  5,  1 862,  Farmer. 

Juman,  Samuel  B.  Private,  Utica,  August  5,  1862,  Painter;  promoted  to  Corp. 
Feb.,  1863,  to  Sergt.  June,  1863,  died  at  home,  March,  1865,  while  on  (sick) 
furlough. 

McNab,  Charles  D.  Private,  Whitestown,  August  4,  1862,  Bleacher;  died  of 
wounds,  June  6,  1864. 

Russell,  George  11.  Private,  Sangersfield,  August  6,  1862,  Farmer ;  taken  prisoner 
August  25,  1864,  died  in  Salisbury  prison. 

Baldwin,  Henry  Private,  Sangersfield,  August  6,  1862,  Shoemaker;  promoted  to 
Corporal,  April,  1865. 

Deerflinger,  George  Private,  Sangersfield,  August  6,  1862,  Shoemaker. 

Kelley,  William  Private,  Sangersfield,  August  6,  1862,  Moulder. 

Lloyd,  Robert  Private,  Whitestown,  August  6,  1862,  Cotton  spinner;  died  of 
wounds,  June  21,  1864. 

Marcy,  John  Private,  Utica,  August  6,  1862,  Horse  Jockey. 

Pardee,  H.  E.  B.  Private,  Utica,  August  6, 1862,  Mechanic;  wounded  at  Drury's 
Bluff,  May  16,  1864,  discharged  by  reason  of  disability. 

Sinclair,  Henry  Private,  Whitestown,  August  6,  1862,  Bleacher;  promoted  to 
Corporal,  March,  1863,  discharged  March  1,  1865. 

Williams,  Edward  D.  Private,  Whitestown, August 6, 1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to 
Corporal,  June  29,  1864,  died  of  wounds  received  at  Fort  Fisher,  Jan.  30/65. 

Blodgett,  Chas.  B.  Private,  Whitestown,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Tinsmith;  transferred 
to  V.  R.  C.,  July,  1863. 

Crumb,  Percival  Private,  Kirkland,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Farmer;  discharged  April 

•   15th,  1864. 

Fairhead,  John  S.  Private,  New  Hartford,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to 

principal  musician,  Aug.  1862. 

Hall,  Alfred  F.  Private,  Whitestown,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Farmer;  transferred  to  V. 
R.  Corps. 

Johnson,  Robert  Private,  Whitestown,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Baker. 

Lucas,  Orin  C.  Private,  Kirkland,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Student;  died  June,  1863. 

Roger,  Hamilton  Private,  Whitestown,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Farmer;  died  from  phys 
ical  exhaustion,  July  18th,  1863. 

Sharp,  Stephen  Private,  Sangersfield,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Vasburgh,  Jas.  N.  Private,  Kirkland,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Mechanic;  discharged. 

Brow»,  Elias  A.  Private,  Saugersfield,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Farmer;  died  of  diar 
rhoea.  Oct.  16th,  1864. 


HISTORY  OP  THE  117TH  R.   N.    Y.   V.  253 

Carpenter,  Wm.  H.  Private,  Sangersfield,  Aug.  8th,  1862,  Tailor. 

Dunham,  Geo.  M.  Private,  Vienna,  Aug.  8th,  1862,  Boatman;  discharged  from 

hospital. 
Dunham,  John  H.  Private,  Vienna,  Aug.  8th,  1862,  Boatman ;  died  of  wounds 

Nov.  17th,  1864. 
Griner,  Edward  Private,  Verona,  Aug.  8th,  1862,  Glass  blower;  killed  at  Fort 

Fisher,  N.  C.,  Jan.  16th,  1865. 

Jones,  Richard  Private,  Vienna,  Aug.  8th,  1862,  Blacksmith. 
Hunger,  C.  A.  Private,  Sangersfield,  Aug.  8th,  1862,  Clerk ;  discharged  May, 

1863. 

Burdick,  P.  Private,    Sangersfield,  Aug.  8th,  1862,  Farmer;  died  of  diarrhoea 

Sept.  5th,  1864. 
Beebee,  Albert    Private,  Sangersfield,  Aug.  9th,  1862,  Farmer;  discharged  from 

hospital. 

Childs,  Andrew  F.  Private,  Sangersfield,  Aug.  9th,  1862,  Harness  maker. 
Dunham,  Orlando  Private,  Vienna,  Aug.  9th,  1862,  Boatman  ;  promoted  to  Cor 
poral,  Jan.  16th,  1865;  discharged. 

Garlic,  Theodore  J.  Private,  Vienna,  Aug.  9th,  1862,  Teacher. 
Jordan,  William  Private,  Sangersfield,  Aug.  9th,   1862,  Farmer;  promoted   to 

Corporal ;  discharged  from  hospital. 
Philbrick,  Revillo  Private,  Vienna,  Aug.  9th,  1862,  Mechanic ;  died  of  wounds, 

June  27th,  1864. 

Spencer,  Ira  Private,  Sangersfield,  Aug.  9th,  1862,  Farmer. 
Vibbard,  C.  W.  Private,  Sangersfield,  Aug.  9th,  1862,  Farmer;  wounded,  June 

15th,  1864;  discharged. 
Wample,  Francis  Private,  Sangersfield,  Aug.  9th,  1862,  Farmer  ;  discharged 

from  hospital. 
Wells,  Artelus  M.  Private,  Sangersfield,  Aug.  9th,  1861,  Farmer;  transferred  to 

V.  R.  Corps. 

Jones,  Owen  R.  Private,  Whitestown,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Farmer. 
Finch,  James  Private,  New  Hartford,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Carpenter. 
Cogswell,  Orin  W.  Private,   Western,  Aug.  12th,   1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to 

Corporal,  March,  1st,  1863  ;  died  of  fever,  Sept.  9th,  1863. 
Fellows,  Chas.  H.  Private,  Vienna,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Farmer;  discharged,  Nov. 

10th,  1862. 

French,  John  H.  Private,  Western, *Aug.  12th,  1862,  Farmer;  transferred  to  V. 
R.  Corps. 

Hill,  Oscar  F.  Private,  Western,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Miller,  Daniel  Private,  Vienna,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Farmer;  discharged  from  hos 
pital. 

Fogus,  William  B.  Private,  Kirkland,  Aug.  19th,  1862,  Farmer;  died,  Dec.  1864, 
Cat  home  on  furlough.) 

Morey,  George  C.  Private,  Western,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Physician  by  egotism;  dis 
charged  Nov.  1st,  1862. 

17 


254  HISTORY  OF  THE   117TH   E.    N.    Y.   V. 

Jones,  James  Private,  Saogersfield,  Aug.  18th,  1862,  Moulder;  promoted  to  Cor 
poral,  Nov.  1st,  1864. 

Kogers,  George  Private,  Steuben,  Aug.  18th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Jones,  John  Private,  Sangersfield,  Aug.  18th,  1862,  Farmer;  Promoted  to  Cor 
poral  March  1st,  1864,  to  Sergeant,  Nov.  1st,  1865. 

VanDresar,  Francis  Private,  Western,  Aug.  18th,  1862,  Farmer;  discharged 
from  hospital. 

Reed,  John  Private,  Sangersfield,  Aug.  1st,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to  Cor 
poral,  June  15th,  1864  ;  to  Sergeant,  March  1st,  1865. 

Nolan,  Cornelius  Private,  Sangersfield,  Aug.  1st,  1862,  Farmer. 

Burckler,  Henry  Private,  Utica,  Aug.  5th,  1862,  Mechanic;  promoted  to  Cor 
poral  Sept.  1st,  1864  ;  killed  at  Fort  Fisher,  N.  C.,  Jan.  15th,  1865. 

Holmes,  Lewis  Private,  Vienna,  Aug.  9th,  1862,  Farmer. 

1864. — Recruits  from  this  forward. 
Cox  James  Private,  Sangersfield,  Feb.  27th,  1864,  Farmer;  transferred  to  48th 

R!  N.  Y.  V. 

Reed,  Frank  Private,  Utica,  Feb.  24th,  1864,  Mechanic. 
Wample,  Chas.  H.  Private,  Utica,  Jan.  25th,  1864,  Teamster. 
Downs,  Michael  Private,  Utica,  Jan.  12th,  1864,  Farmer;  wounded  Sept.  29th, 

1864. 
Malone,  Chas.  H.  Private,  Utica,  Jan.  19th,  1864,  Farmer;  wounded  at  Fort 

Fisher. 

Teachout,  Squire  Private,  Camden,  Feb.   12th,  1864,  Farmer. 
Boomer,  Willard  Private,  Utica,  Feb.  17th,  1864,  Farmer;  promoted  to  Corporal 

April  1st,  1865. 
Doyle,  Patrick  Private,  Rome,  Feb.  15th,  1864,  Laborer;  died  of  wounds,  July 

30th,  1864. 
Judd,  Benj.  Private,  Sangersfield,  Dec.  22d,  1863,  Farmer;  deserted  in  May, 

1864  ;  returned  when  fighting  was  finished,  April,  1865. 
Jackson,  Robert  Private,  Rome,  Feb.  15th,  1863,  Laborer. 
Redward*Nathaniel  Private,  Camden,  Dec.  14th,  1863,  Farmer. 
Williams,  John  Private,  Utica,  Feb.  8th,  1864,  Laborer. 
Evans,  Taliesan  Private,  Floyd,  Jan.  9th,  1864,  Student. 

Hughes,  Hiram  H.  Private,  Remsen,  Aug.  17th,  1864,  Laborer;  missing  in  ac 
tion,  Sept.  29th,  1864.  • 
Rodgers,  John  Private,  Utica,  July  llth,  1S64,  Carpenter. 
Whalan,  John  Private,  Sangersfield,  Aug.  17th,  1864,  Farmer;  wounded  at  Fort 

Fisher ;  discharged. 

Jones,  John  V.  Private,  Remsen,  July  22d,  1 864,  Farmer ;  returned  with  Reg't. 
Jones,  Reese  T.  Private,  Remsen,  Aug.  17th,  1864,  Farmer;  discharged  from 

hospital. 

Chandler,  Charles  Private,  Utica,  Sept.  1st,  1864,  Tailor. 
Drew,  David  S.  Private,  New  Hartford,  Sept.  3d,  1864,  Farmer. 
Mclntire,  John  Private,  Watertown,  March  3d,  1865,  Farmer. 
Berry,  Samuel  Private,  Watertown,  March  3d,  1865,  Laborer. 


HISTORY  OP  THE  117TH  E.   N.   Y.   V.  255 

Donovan,  William  Private,  Watertown,  March  4th,  1865,  Laborer. 
Detlor,  John  Private,  Watertown,  March  7th,  1865,  Farmer. 
Bissel,  Charles^Private,  Pittsburgh,  March  3d,  1865,  Laborer. 
Summers,  Geo.  Private,  Plattsburgh,  Feb.  23d,  1865,  Farmer. 
Hiter,  William  Private,  Plattsburgh,  Feb.  29th,  1865,  Laborer. 
Reed,  James  Private,  Plattsburgh,  Feb.  28th,  1865,  Farmer. 
Green,  Alex.  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  9th,  1865,  Seaman. 
Geler,  August  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  9th,  1865,  Porter. 
Tren,  Francis  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  9th,  1865,  Laborer. 
McGuire,  James  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  9th,  1865,  Laborer. 
Bradley,  Reuben  H.  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  9th,  1865,  Laborer. 
Carl,  Sulzcr  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  9th,  1865,  Sawyer. 
Kennedy,  Daniel  Private,  Rome,  Jan.  23d,  1865,  Boatman. 
Murphy,  John  Private,  Remsen,  Jan.  20th,  1865,  Laborer. 
Hall,  Alexander  Private,  Lockport,  March  18th,  1865,  Grocer. 
Montonour,  Wm.  H.  Private,  Lockport,  March  17th,  1865,  Laborer. 
Langdon,  John  Private,  N.  Y.  City,  Feb.  17th,  1865,  Baker. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  E. 

LEVI  K.  BROWN,  appointed  Captain  Aug.  12th,  1862;  discharged  for  disability. 

MORRIS  CHAPPELL,  appointed  1st  Lieutenant  Aug.  12th,  1862  ;  resigned  Feb. 
14th,  1863,  on  account  of  ill  health. 

AUGUSTUS  M.  ERWINE,  appointed  2d  Lieutenant  Aug.  12th,  1862;  promoted  to 
1st  Lieutenant  Dec.  27th,  1863 ;  detailed  A.  D.  C.  on  staff  of  Brig.  Colonel 
Alford.  Promoted  to  Captain,  Aug.  24th,  1864;  severely  wounded  at  Ber 
muda  front,  Aug.  25th,  1864. 


Spencer  C.  Myer,  1st  Sergeant,  Rome,  Aug.  1st,  1862,  Butcher;  promoted  to  2d 

Lieutenant,  May  18th,  1864. 
Fred.  C.  Hill,  Sergeant,  Rome,  July  31st,  1862,  Carriage  trimmer ;  discharged  for 

disability,  Oct.  7th,  1862. 

Milton  H.  Culver,  Sergeant,  Rome,  July  23d,  1862,  Farmer. 
William  Lasher,  Sergeant,  Rome,  July  30th,  1862,  Mechanic ;  missing  in  action, 

Sept.  29th,  1864. 
H.  S.  Miller,  Sergeant,  Rome,  Aug.  4th,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to  1st  Sergeant 

May  20th,  1864. 

J.  H.  Gurnsey,  Corporal,  Rome,  Aug.  2d,  1862,  Tinsmith,  transferred  to  V.  R, 
Charles  Bennet,  Corporal,  Rome,  Aug.   llth,  1862,  Mechanic. 
Charles  0.  Smith,   Corporal,  Rome,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Farmer. 
Richard  Millington,   Corporal,  Rome,  July  24th,  1862,  Blacksmith. 


256  HISTORY  OP  THE  117TH  B.   N.   Y.   V. 

Jacob  Hyde,  Jr.,  Corporal,  Rome,  Aug.  5th,  1862,  Blacksmith. 

George  H.  Brown,  Corporal,  Rome,  Aug.  5th,  1862,  Farmer  ;  promoted  to  Ser 
geant,  May  1st,  1864,  missing  in  action,  Sept.  29th,  1864. 

George  H.  Still,  Corporal,  Rome,  Aug.  8th,  1862,  Farmer;  died  May  18th, 
1864,  of  wounds  received  16th. 

Fred.  Boden,  Corporal,  Rome,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Butcher;  promoted  to  Sergeant, 
May  1st,  1863  ;  promoted  to  2d  Lieutenant,  May  12th,  1865. 

Byron  Holton,  Musician,  Rome,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Boatman;  killed  in  assault  on 
Fort  Fisher,  N.  C.,  Jan.  15th,  1865. 

Chattcrton,  Henry  Private,  Rome,  July  23d,  1862,  Farmer. 

Wright,  John  Private,  Rome,  July  25th,  1862,   Shoemaker. 

Hulbert,  George  H.  Private,  Rome,  July  25th,  1862,  Farmer  ;  died,  Dec.  8th,  '63. 

Turner,  Levi  Private,  Rome,  July  26th,  1862,  Laborer;  discharged,  Oct.  7th,  '62. 

Evans,  Charles  Private,  Rome,  July  28th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Holdren,  Theodore  Private,  Rome,  July  28th,  1862,  Laborer. 

Walter,  Joseph  Private,  Rome,  July  28th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Wheelan,  Michael  C.  Private,  Rome,  July  29th,  1862,  Laborer;  discharged  Nov. 
26th,  1862. 

Wilbert,  Martin  Private,  Rome,  July  30th,  1862,  Laborer. 

Taylor,  George  Private,  Rome,  July  30th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Meyers,  Henry  J.  Private,  Rome,  July  30th,  1862,  Farmer;  died,  Jan.  8th,  1865. 

Claflin,  Wallace  Private,  Rome,  July  30th,  1862,  Farmer;  died,  Oct.  13th,  1863. 

Doyle,  John  Private,  Rome,  July  30th,  1862,  Laborer. 

Hyde,  Samuel  Private,  Rome,  July  30th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Lasher,  James  A.  Private,  Rome,  July  31st,  1862,  Farmer;  died,  Jan.  15th,  '65. 

Masury,'  Joel  Private,  Rome,  July  31st,  1862,  Mechanic;  discharged,  Nov. 
26th,  1863. 

Gurnsey,  Jas.  J.  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  1st,  1862,  Printer. 

Roney,  William  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  1st,  1862,  Laborer;  killed  at  Fort  Fisher, 
N.  C.,  Jan.  15th,  1865. 

Stewart,  W.  Silas  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  1st,  1862,  Farmer. 

Basset,  Joseph  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  2d,  1862,  Boatman ;  transferred  to  V.  R.  C., 
Aug.  24th,  1863. 

Hewer,  Chas.  L.  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  2d,  1862,Mechanic,  Co.  "H." 

Servey,  Wm.  H.  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  2d,  1862,  Bartender;  killed  at  Cold  Har 
bor,  Va.,  June  8th,  1864. 

Hayse,  Wm.  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  2d,  186£  Laborer. 

Norton,  John  H.  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  2d,  1862,  Shoemaker. 

Stimer,  Elias  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  2d,  1862,  Mason  ;  discharged,  May  29th,  1863. 

Moulton,  Benj.  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  4th,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to  Corporal, 
May  20th,  1864  ;  missing  in  action,  Sept.  29th,  1864. 

Tully,  Albert  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  4th,  1862,  Boatman. 

Van  Brockliu,  Sylvester  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  4th,  1862,  Student;  discharged, 
Aug.  12th,  1862. 

Wooldridge,  John  W.  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  4th,  1862,  Boatman. 


HISTORY  OP  THE  117TH  R.   N.    Y.   V.  257 

Wyman,  John  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  4th,  1862,  Laborer;  discharged,  Aug.  12th, 

1863. 

White,  Francis  P.  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  5th,  1862,  Farmer. 
Young,  Emory  B.  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  5th,  1862,  Porter. 
Denton,  Orson  B.  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  6th,  1862,  Mechanic. 
Far,  Edward  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  6th,  1862,  Farmer;  discharged,  March  13th, 

1863. 

Letters,  Wm.  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  6th,  1862,  Laborer. 
Meyer,  John  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  6th,  1862,  Farmer. 
Paddock,  John  J.  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  6th,  1862,  Farmer. 
Sexton,  Jacob  H.  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  6th,  1862,  Mechanic;  discharged,  Nov. 

10th,  1862. 

Wilson,  Dyer  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  6th,  1862,  Miller. 
Weaver,  Alfred  F.  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  6th,  1862,  Farmer. 
Bristol,  Nicholas  Private,  Amesville,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Farmer. 
Bacon,  Hiram  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to  Corporal, 

Jan.  1st,  1864. 
Ferguson,  Horace  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  8th,  1862,  Farmer;  discharged,  Sept. 

29th,  1863. 

Orsburn,  Henry  Private,  Amesville,  Aug.  8th,  1862,  Farmer. 
Slack,  Wm.  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  8th,  1862,  Farmer. 
Ransom,  Stephen  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  9th,  1862,  Farmer. 
Bradley,  Joshua  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  9th,  1862,  Farmer;  discharged  Dec.  26th/64. 
Craven,  Frank  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  9th,  1862,  Farmer. 
Evans,  David  S.  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  9th,  1862,  Farmer. 
Erwin,  Frederick  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  9th,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to  Corporal, 

May  21st,  1864. 

Philips,  Alonzo  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  9th,  1862,  Butcher. 
Anson,  Theodore  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Laborer;  discharged,  May 

31st,  1863. 

Bates,  James  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Blacksmith;  promoted  to  Cor 
poral,  Nov.  2d,  1864. 
Briggs,  Lewis  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Laborer;  died  of  wounds,  Jan. 

28th,  1865. 

Bever,  Edward  Private,  Rome, 'Aug.  llth,  1862,Farmer;  killed,  May  16th,  1864. 
Crimman,  John  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Tailor;  Co.  "H." 
Downend,  Geo.  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Farmer. 
Dyer,  O.  H.   Private,  Rome,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to  Corporal, 

Aug.  14th,  1864. 

Evans,  James  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Farmer. 
Frances,  John  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Farmer. 
Graves,  John  W.  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Farmer. 
Herder,  Ernest  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Farmer. 
Hall,  John  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to  Corporal, 

Aug.  22d,  1864. 


258  HISTORY  OP  THE  117TH  R.   N.   Y.   V. 

Louden,  James  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Boatman. 

Mowers,  Daniel  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Farmer. 

Mahonney,  Dennis  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Seaman;  transferred  to  the 

Navy,  April  30th,  1864. 
O'Neal,  Levi  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Seaman;  transferred  to  the  navy, 

April  30th,  1864. 
Pickens,  John  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to  Corporal, 

Nov.  2d,  1864. 

Swift,  B.  E.  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Farmer. 
Salisbury,  Wm.  N.  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Boatman. 
Wilson,  Charles  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Engineer ;  promoted  to  Cor 
poral,  Oct.  7th,  1862. 

Wingate,  John  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Student. 
Zelie,  Stanton  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Farmer. 
Dennison,  Frank  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Farmer. 
Deline,  Delowas  D.  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Mechanic;  promoted  to 

Corporal,  June  1st,  1863  ;  promoted  to  Sergeant,  Nov.  2d,  1864. 
Schroder,  Philip  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Farmer. 
Slocum,  David  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Farmer. 
Sexton,  Henry  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Farmer. 
Markley,  Nicodemus  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Farmer  ;  discharged,  Dec. 

29th,  1862. 

Mabb,  William  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Farmer. 
Harriot,  John  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Blacksmith;  died  of  wounds, 

Nov.  1st,  1864. 
Servey,  Wm.  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  2d,  1862,  Bar  keeper;  promoted  to  Corporal, 

May  1st,  1863,  to  Sergeant,  Nov.  2d,  1864. 

1864. — Recruits  from  this  forward. 
Evans,  Levi  Private,  Utica,  Feb.  2d,  1864,  Farmer. 
Johnson,  Warren  Private,  Utica,  Jan.  7th,  1864,  Farmer. 
Johnson,  George  Private,  Utica,  Jan.  7th,  1864,  Farmer. 
Mosher,  Thomas  Private,  Utica,  Jan.  21st,  1864,  Farmer. 
Newton,  Jerome  Private,  Utica,  Dec.  30th,  1863,  Farmer;  died  May  3d,  1864. 
Covell,  Jasper  Private,  Vienna,  Dec.  30th,  1863,  Farmer. 
Daly,  Michael  Private,  Amesville,  Dec.  30th,  1863, Farmer;  killed,  May  16th, 

1864. 

Graves,  Clark  V.  Private,  Rome,  Dec.  30th,  1863,  Mechanic. 
Spencer,  Geo.  G.  Private,  Rome,  Jan.  20th,  1864,  Farmer;  killed  at  Fort  Fisher, 

N.  C.,  Jan.  15th,  1865. 

Cook,  Andrew  Private,  Verona,  Jan.  4th,  1864,  Farmer. 
Martin,  Geo.  W.  Private,  Rome,  Feb.  20th,  1864,  Farmer. 
Every,  Leander  Private,  Amesville,  Dec.  14th,  1863,  Farmer. 
Snyder,  Ransom  Private,  Amesville,  Dec.  14th,  1863,  Farmer. 
Carl,  Dennis  II.  Private,  Utica,  March  22d,  1864,  Soldier. 
Meags,  Geo.  B.  Private,  Utica,  Jan.  26th,  1864,  Farmer  ;  died  of  wounds,  July 

llth,  1864. 


HISTORY  OP  THE  117TH  B.    N.   T.   V.  259 

Sampmire,  Jacob  Private,  Marcy,  Aug.  18th,  1864,  Laborer. 
Murphy,  Peter  Private,  Boonville,  Aug.  3d,  1864,  Carpenter. 
Wallace,  Lewis  Private,  Rome,  June  8th,  1864,  Shoemaker. 
Kychner,  August  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  9th,  1865,  Shoemaker. 
Adams,  Valentine  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  9th,  1865,  Clerk. 
Fahey,  Thomas  B.  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  9th,  1865,  Painter. 
Manton,  Chas.  H.  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  9th,  1865,  Book  keeper. 
Dailey,  Christopher  Private,  Brooklyn,  March.  9th,  1865. 
Lenison,  Albert  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  9th,  1865,  Cigar  maker. 
Schneider,  Antoine  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  9th,  1865,  Laborer. 
Baure,  Godfrey  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  9th,  1865,  Laborer. 
Wolfensinger,  Raphael  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  9th,  1865,  Shoemaker. 
Kulmel,  Nicholas  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  9th,  1865,  Laborer. 
Herkem,  William  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  9th,  1865,  Farmer. 
Nash,  George  R.  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  9th,  1865,  Coppersmith. 
Burns,  John  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  9th,  1865,  Shoemaker. 
Craft,  Moses  A.  Private,  Tarry  town,  Feb.  21st,  Plasterer. 
McClellan,  Howard  Private,  Lockport,  March  20th,  1865,  Laborer. 
Ferguson,  John  P.  Private,  Lockport,  March  3d,  1865,  Farmer. 
Hill,  John  Private,  Lockport,  March  3d,  1865,  Farmer. 
McClellan,  J.  C.  Private,  Lockport,  March  14th,  1865,  Laborer. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  F. 

SETH  J,  STEVES,  appointed  Captain  Aug.  12th,  1862 ;  resigned,  March  3d,  1863. 
WILLIAM  J.  HUNT,  1st  Lieutenant  Aug.  12th,  1862;  promoted  to  Captain,  Dec. 

27th,  1863  ;  died  July  31st,  of  wounds  received  in  action. 
JOHN  F.  THOMAS,  2d  Lieutenant,  Aug.  12th,  1862;  promoted  to  1st  Lieutenant, 

Dec.  27th,  1863  ;  promoted  to  Captain,  Oct.  llth,  1864  ;  killed  in  the  assault 

on  Fort  Fisher. 


Stewart  Briggs,   1st  Sergeant,  Steuben,  July  24th,  1862,  Farmer;  discharged, 

Jan.  5th,  1863,  disability. 
Adelbert  Ecker,  Sergeant,  Whitestown,  July  22d,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to  1st 

Sergeant;  to  2d  Lieutenant,  May  23d,  1864. 
W.  H.  Nelson,   Sergeant,  Whitestown,  July  22d,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to  1st 

Sergeant,  May  23d,  missing  in  action,  Sept.  29th,  1864. 
Thomas  H.  Lewis,  Sergeant,  Trenton,  Aug.  9th,  1862,  Wagon  maker. 
Peter  Castello,  Sergeant,  Whitestown,  July  21st,  1862,  Laborer;  discharged  Feb. 

26th,  1863,  disability. 
John  Daly,  Corporal,  Whitestown,  July  21st,  1862,  Carpenter;  discharged  Jan. 

5th,  1863,  disability. 


260  HISTORY  OF  THE  117TH  R.   N.   Y.   V. 

Edgar  F.  Niles,  Corporal,  Whitestown,  July  22d,  1862,  Carpenter;  promoted  to 

Sergeant,  Jan.  5th,  1863,  promoted  to  1st  Sergeant,  April,  1865. 
John  J.Lewis,  Corporal,  Deerfield,  Aug.  6th,  1862,  Farmer;  discharged  Dec. 

8th,  1862. 

Richard  House,  Corporal,  Whitestown,  July  30th,  1862,   Cigar  maker. 
Samuel  Nelson,  Corporal,  Trenton,  July  12th,  1862,  Moulder. 
Caleb  P.  Bailey,  Corporal,  Whitestown,  Aug.  2d,  1862,  Farmer. 
Richard  E.  Edwards,  Corporal,  Steuben,  Aug.  4th,  1862,  Farmer ;  promoted  to 

Sergeant. 
Geo.  R.  Tarbox,  Corporal,  Trenton,  Aug.  9th,  1862,  Teamster;  promoted   to 

Sergeant.  Feb.  26th,  1863,  discharged,  Dec.  1st,  1864. 
Reuben  Burrows,  Musician,  Whitestown,  Aug.  9th,  1862,  Laborer. 
Squire  C.  Dayan,  Musician,  Whitestown,  Aug.  21st,  1862,  Laborer. 
Dan.  S.  Avery,  Teamster,  Whitestown,  July  23d,  1862,  Farmer. 
Kelley,  Wm.  Private,  Whitestown,  July  14th,  1862,  Moulder ;  died  Oct.  3d,  '62. 
Simons,  Wm.  L.  Private,  Whitestown,  July  17th,  1862,  Spinner;  missing  in 

action,  Sept.  29th,  1 864. 

Wilson,  Williarn  Private,  Whitestown,  July  18th,  1862,  Laborer;  missing  in  ac 
tion,  May  16th,  1864. 

Sears,  Wm.  C.  Private,  Utica,  July  21st,  1862,  Painter. 
Washington,  Tyron  Private,  Utica,  July  21st,  1862,  Farmer. 
Faith,  Joseph  Private,  Utica,  July  23d,  1862,  Laborer;  discharged. 
Jones,  William  W.  Private,  Trenton,  July  24th,  1862,  Painter  :  discharged  Feb. 

3d,  1863. 

Gaynor,  John  Private,  Trenton,  July  24th,  1862,  Wagon  maker. 
Taylor,  William  Private,  Whitestown,  July  24th,  1862,  Farmer;  discharged  Feb. 

23d,  1863. 
Warahen,  Thomas  Private,  Whitestown,  July  24th,  1862,  Farmer;  discharged 

June  17th,  1863. 

Johnson,  Edward  Private,  Utica,  July  28th,  1862,  Laborer. 
Jones,  Richard  D.  1st,  Private,  Steuben,  July  28th,  1862,  Farmer. 
Jones,  Richard  D.  2d,  Private,  Trenton,  July  28th,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to 

Corporal,  May  23d,  1864. 
Philpot,  Thomas  Private,  Whitestown,  July  28th,  1862,  Laborer;  transferred  to 

V.  R.  C.,  Oct.  19th,  1863. 
King,  Hiram  Private,  Steuben,  July  29th,  1862,  Farmer ;  transferred  to  V.  R.  C., 

Nov.  1st,  1863. 
McCommer,  John  Private,  Whitestown,  July  29th,  1862,  Farmer;  killed,  May 

16th,  1864. 

Roberts,  David  T.  Private,  Trenton,  July  29th,  1862,  Painter. 
Boardman,  W.  R.  Private,  Whitestown,  July  30th,  1862,  Laborer. 
Boardman,  Geo.  W.  Private,  Whitestown,  July  30th,  1862,  Laborer. 
Gray,  Charles  Private,  Whitestown,  July  30th,  1 862,  Laborer. 
Clark,  Chas.  F.  Private,  Floyd,  July  31st,  1862,  .Farmer. 
Cassidy,  Orenzo  Private,  Trenton,  July  31st,  1862,  Laborer. 


HISTORY  OF  THE   117TH  B.   N.    Y.   V.  261 

Demings,  Daniel  Private,  Trenton,  July  31st,  1862,  Farmer;  died  Jan.  5th,  '63. 

Denton,  John  Private,  Whitestown,  July  31st,  1862,  Farmer;  discharged  April 
14th,  1863. 

Roberts,  Elias  Private,  Trenton,  July  31st,  1862,  Blacksmith. 

Fancher,  Edward  D.  Private,  Whitestown,  Aug.  1st,  1862,  Farmer;  discharged. 

Smith,  Geo.  C.  Private,  Whitestown,  Aug.  1st,  1862,  Farmer;  discharged,  Feb. 
16th,  1863. 

Comstock,  Stevens  Private,  Whitestown,  Aug.  1st,  1862,  Farmer. 

Remp,  Frederick  Private,  Trenton,  Aug.  2d,  1862,  Laborer;  promoted  to  Cor 
poral,  Sept.  1st,  1864,  to  Sergeant,  Feb.  1st,  1865. 

Servey,  Joseph  Private,  Steuben,  Aug.  2d,  1862,  Farmer ;  transferred  to  Com 
pany  "H." 

Baker,  Henry  Private,  Trenton,  Aug.  2d,  1862,  Farmer ;  transferred  to  V.  R.  C., 
Oct.  19th,  1863. 

Jones,  Israel  Private,  Trenton,  Aug.  4th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Jones,  David  E.  Private,  Trenton,  Aug.  4th,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to  Cor 
poral,  Feb.  1st,  1865. 

Ninenger,  Frederick  Private,  Trenton,  Aug.  4th,  1862,  Farmer;  died  Dec.  20th> 
1862. 

Parker,  John  Private,  Whitestown,  Aug.  4th,  1862,  Laborer;  discharged,  Nov. 
16th,  1862. 

Wait,  Simon  Private,  Trenton,  Aug.  4th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Laubly,  Jacob  Private,  Whitestown,  j Aug.  4th,  1862,  Doctor;  discharged,  Nov. 
10th,  1862  ;  promoted  to  2d  Assistant  Surgeon. 

Bates,  James  A.  Private,  Whitestown,  Aug.  5th,  1862,  Doctor;  discharged  March 
3d,  1863. 

Bailey,  Wm.  A.  Private,  Boonville,  Aug.  6th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Letson,  Jonathan  Private,  Westmoreland,  Aug.  6th,  1862,  Farmer;  died  July 
19th,  1863,  exhaustion. 

Wolf,  Charles  Private,  Trenton,  Aug.  6th,  1862,  Farmer;  died  Sept.  27th,  1863, 
diarrhoea. 

Dorety,  Lutas  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  6th,  1862,  Boatman. 

Graham,  Alonzo  Private,  Whitestown,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Laborer;  promoted  to 
Corporal  Sept.  1st,  1862  ;  promoted  to  Sergeant,  Nov.  1st,  1864. 

Griffith,  Edward  Private,  Trenton,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Jones,  William  Private,  Floyd,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Potter,  James  Private,  Whitestown,  Aug.  7tl^l862,  Spinner. 

.Roberts,  Edward  C.  Private,  Marcy,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Simons,  Fletcher  Private,  Whitestown,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Spinner;  discharged, 
Sept.  10th,  1864. 

Smith,  Richard  Private,  Whitestown,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Laborer. 

Wilson,  George  Private,  Whitestown,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Wool  sorter;  discharged, 
Oct.  15th,  1863. 

Williams,  William  M.  Private,  Trenton,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Walker,  George  J.  Private,  Whitestown,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Spinner. 


262  HISTORY  OF  THE    117TH  B.   N.    Y.   V. 

Austin,  Allen  Private,  Whitestown,  Aug.  8th,  1862,  Basket  maker  ;  discharged. 

Dwyer,  Henry  Private,  Trenton,  Aug.  8th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Davis,  Wm.  H.  Private,  Whitestown,  Aug.  8th,  1862,  Farmer ;  killed,  May  16th, 
1864. 

Davis,  James  Private,  Whitestown,  Aug.  8th,  1862,  Spinner;  discharged,  Jan. 
1st,  1863. 

thase,  George  II.  Private,  Trenton,  Aug.  9th,  1862,  Painter. 

Hughes,  John  Private,  Trenton,  Aug.  9th,  1862,  Painter. 

Jones,  John  W.  Private,  Trenton,  Aug.  9th,  1862,  Blacksmith;  discharged,  May 
30th,  1863. 

Ringrose,  Matthew  Private,  Whitestown,  Aug.  9th,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to 
Corporal,  Nov.  1st,  1864. 

Stewart,  William  Private,  Whitestown,  Aug.  9th,  1862,  Laborer;  discharged, 
Feb.  25th,  1863. 

Jones,  David  Private,  Trenton,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Farmer;  died,  March  llth,  '64. 

Loomis,  Geo.  Private,  Deerfield,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Farmer. 

Merringer,  John  Private,  Deerfield,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Farmer;  killed,  May  16th, 
1864. 

Roberts,  John  G.  Private,  Trenton,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Quarryman. 

Ryan,  John  Private,  Deerfield,  Aug.    llth,    1862,   Farmer;  killed  on   Morris 
Island,  S.  C. 

Hughes,  Wm.  Private,  Trenton,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Quarryman. 

Cookingham,  C.  O.  Private,  Trenton,  Aug.  1 2th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Owen,  Thomas  Private,  Trenton,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Quarryman. 

Davis,  Owen  K.  Private,  Trenton,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Ellis,  Hughes  M.  Private,  Deerfield,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Jones,  William  0.  Private,  Trenton,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Jones,  Owen  Private,  Trenton,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Lamb,  Henry  Private,  Trenton,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Volner,  John  Private,  Trenton,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Williams,  Griffith  Private,  Trenton,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Farmer;  died,  Feb.  3d/65. 

Williams,  Owen  Private,   Trenton,  Aug.  12th,    1862,  Farmer. 

Burrows,  Ansel  S.  Private,  Westmoreland,  Aug.  13th,  1863,  Farmer;  discharged, 
March  21st,  1863. 

Conner,  Michael  Private,  Trenton,  Aug.  13th,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to  Cor 
poral,  May  25th,  1864. 

McGinnis,  Patrick  Private,  Whitesl^wn,  Aug.  13th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Ringrose,  Christopher  Private,  Trenton,  Aug.  13th,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to 
Corporal,  Oct.  1st,  1864;  killed  at  Fort  Fisher,  N.  C. 

Sanford,  Chas.  D.  Private,  Marcy,  Aug.  13th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Pease,  Henry  Private,  Whitestown,  Aug.  15th,  1862,  Carpenter;  died  at  Salis 
bury,  N.  C.,  Dec.  21st,  1864. 

Gregory,  Geo.  M.  Private,  Trenton,  Aug.  18th,  1862,  Miller;  promoted  to  Cor 
poral,  March  1st,  1863. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  117TH  R.   N.   Y.   V.  263 

Jones,  Ed.  E.  Private,  Utica,  Aug.  19th,  1862,  Shoemaker;  promoted  to  Cor- 
poral. 

All  recruits  from  this  forward. 

Covell,  Hiram  B.  Private,  Utica,  Dec.  31st,  1863,  Boatman. 

Covell,  Josiah  B.  Private,  Utica,  Dec.  31st,  1863,  Farmer. 

Bears,  Giles  Private,  Utica,  Jan.  5th,  1864,  Machinist;  died  of  wounds,   Sept. 
2d,  1864. 

Doorhammer,  Edward  Private,  Utica,  Jan.  26th,  1864,  Farmer. 

Evans,  Ellis  Private,  Utica,  Feb.  9th,  1864,  Laborer. 

Flannigan,  Wm.  Private,  Utica,  Jan.  21st,  1864,  Farmer. 

Genter,  William  Private,  Utica,  Jan.  3d,  1864,  Farmer. 

Hewston,  Richard  Private,  Utica,  March,  29th,  1864,  Farmer;  promoted  to  Cor 
poral,  March  1st,  1865. 

Kaloe,  Thomas  Private,  Utica,  Jan.  4th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Knight,  Arthur  Private,  Utica,  Jan.  5th,  1864,  Farmer  ;  missing  in  action,  Sept. 
29th,  1864. 

King,  Patrick  Private,  Utica,  Jan.  4th,  1864,  Laborer;  killed,  Sept.  29th,  1864. 

Lockwood,  A.  Private,  Utica,  Jan.  22d,  1864,  Farmer. 

Lockwood,  H.  Private,  Utica,  Jan.  4th,  1864,  Farmer. 

Morrell,  Joseph  Private,  Utica,  March  26th,  1864,Farmer;  died  of  wounds,  Sept. 
2d,  1864. 

McCarthy,  James  Private,  Utica,  Jan.  4th,  1864,  Laborer;  killed,  Aug.  28th, '64. 

Millington,  Geo.  W.  Private,  Utica,  Feb.  13th,  1864,  Farmer. 

Squires,  Henry  Private,  Utica,  Jan.  23d,   1864,   Shoemaker;  discharged,  Nov. 
1st,  1864. 

Thurston,  Franklin  Private,  Utica,  Jan.  5th,  1864,  Farmer. 

Walters,  George  Private,  Utica,  Feb.  29th,  1864,  Farmer. 

Wormwood,  Morris  Private,  Utica,  Feb.  6th,  1864,  Soldier. 

Welcome,  F.  D.  Private,  Utica,  Jan.  12th,  1864,  Boatman. 

Mahoney,  Morris  Private,  Utica,  Feb.  20th,  1864,  Laborer. 

Wagoner,  David  Private,  Utica,  March  15th,  1864,  Farmer. 

Winston,  D.  S.  Private,  Utica,  Dec.  18th,  1863,  Clerk. 

Johnson,  A.  V.  Private,  Steubcn,  Aug.  10th,  1864,  Laborer. 

Roberts,  Wm.  H.  Private,  Steuben,  Aug.  22d  1864,  Laborer. 

Shaft,  Wm.  E.  Private,  Steuben,  Aug.  15th,  1864,  Farmer. 

Tigh,  Charles  Private,  Whitestown,  Aug.  20th,  1864,  Boatman. 

Sylvester,  Clark  J.  Utica,  Aug.  10th,  1864,  Laborer. 

Segur,  Ernest  G.,  Jr.  Private,  Marcy,  Aug.  23d,  1864,  Mechanic. 

Segur,  Ernest  G.,  Sr.  Private,  Marcy,  Aug.  17th,  1864,  Mechanic. 

Winterston,  Edward  Private,  Marcy,  Aug.  22d,  1 864,  Farmer. 

Williams,  Isaac  Private,  Marcy,  Aug.  22d,  1864,  Farmer. 

Ferguson,  Hugh  Private,  Tarrytown,  Feb.  21st,  1865,  Carpenter. 

Fifer,  Samuel  Private,  Tarrytown,  March  7th,  1865,  Sailor. 

Fiber,  Michael  Private,  Tarrytown,  March  7th,  1865,  Weaver. 

Baither,  Charles  Private,  Tarry  town,  March  8th,  1865,  Stone  cutter. 


264  HISTORY  OP  THE   117TH  R.   N.   Y.    V. 

McDonald,  Henry  Private,  Tarrytown,  March  9th,  1865,  Ship  Carpenter. 
Luret,  Henry  Private,  Tarrytown,  March  9ili,  1865,  Shoemaker. 
Kane,  Terrence  Private,  Tarrytown,  March  9th,  1865,  Laborer. 
Detric,  Conrad  Private,  Tarrytown,  March  9th,  1865,  Machinist. 
Bower,  Frederick  Private,  Tarrytown,  March  9th,  1865,  Sailor. 
Decker,  Levi  Private,  Albany,  March  6th,  1865,  Bar  tender. 
Hale,  George  Private,  Schenectady,  Sept.  12th,  1864,  Laborer. 
Perry,  Henry  P.  Private,  Watertown,  Sept.  13th,  1864,  Farmer. 
Kelly,  John  Private,  Tarrytown,  March  8th,  1865,  Shoemaker. 
Ethridge,  Richard  Private,  Albany,  March  3d,  1865,  Farmer. 
Johnson,  James  M.  Private,  Loifkport,  Feb.  28th,  1 865,  Farmer. 
Kinney,  William  Private,  Lockport,  March  3d,  1865,  Farmer. 
Le  Valley,  Win.  L.  Private,  Lockport,  Feb.  28th,  1865,  Farmer. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  G. 

CHARLES  H.  ROYS,  Captain  appointed  Aug.  12th,  1862  ;  discharged,  Aug.  31st, 
1863  ;  rejoined  as  Adjutant,  Oct.  1864  ;  afterward  Breveted  Major. 

CHARLES  S.  MILLARD,  1st  Lieutenant,  appointed  Aug.  12th,  1862 ;  appointed 
Adjutant,  Sept.  29th,  1864  ;  resigned  on  account  of  ill  health,  Sept.  29th,  1864. 

ALGERNON  E.  SMITH,  2d  Lieutenant,  appointed  Aug.  14th,  1862 ;  promoted  1st 
Lieutenant,  April  27th,  1863  ;  promoted  Captain,  Oct.  12th,  1864;  detailed  as 
A.  D.  C.  on  Brigade  Staff,  Col.  Alford;  detailed  as  A.  D.  C.  on  Division 
Staff,  Gen.  Foster;  detailed  as  A.  D.  C.  on  Corps  Staff,  Brev.  Maj.  Gen. 
Terry  ;  Breveted  Major  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services  while  Aid  to  Gen. 
Terry,  at  capture  of  Fort  Fisher,  to  date  from  March  3d,  1865;  was  seriously 
wounded  at  the  battle  at  Fort  Fisher. 


Wm.  H.  Hulbert,  1st  Sergeant,  Utica,   1862;  appointed  2d  Lieutenant,  Aug. 

20th,  1862. 
Harrison  E.  Webster,  Sergeant,  Clayville,  July  25th,  1862,  Farmer;  detailed  to 

2d  M.  Dept. 
Chas.  H.  Sharp,   Sergeant,  Clayville,   July  25th,   1862,   Mechanic;  discharged, 

Feb.  14tb,  1863. 
Wm.  F.  Reading,  Sergeant ;  never  assigned  to  Co. 


HISTORY  OP  THE  117TH  R.    N.   Y.   V.  265 

J.  Knox  Williams,  Sergeant,  Verona,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Merchant;  appointed 
2d  Lieutenant,  April  8th,  1864. 

M.  L.  Johnson,  Corporal,  Clayville,  July  28th,  1862,  Agent ;  promoted  to  Ser 
geant,  Aug.  31st,  1862  ;  to  1st  Sergeant,  Nov.  llth,  1863  ;  appointed  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  Feb.  17th,  1865. 

John  B.  Wicks,  Corporal,  Paris,  July  13th,  1862,  Farmer ;  promoted  to  Sergeant 
March  1st,  1863,  to  Com.  Sergeant,  1864. 

David  H.  Green,  Corporal,  Utica,  July  23d,  1 862,  Butcher. 

William  Lindsley,  Corporal,  Augusta,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Farmer;  missing  in  ac 
tion,  Sept.  29th,  1864. 

Henry  V.  Crandall,  Corporal,  Clay  ville,  July  22d,  1862,  Farmer. 

C.  Norman  Beach,  Corporal,  Clayville,  July  28th,  1862,  Mechanic  ;  died  of  Small 
Pox,  March  13th,  1864. 

Lorenzo  P.  Brown,  Corporal,  Clayville,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Clerk;  promoted  to 
Sergeant,  Aug.  31st,  1862. 

JohnD.  Ernst,  Corporal,  Paris,  July  28th,  1862,  Shoemaker;  promoted  to  Ser 
geant,  April  13th,  1864. 

Charles  W.  Sharp,  Musician,  Paris,  July  26th,  1862,  Mechanic;  transferred  to 
Company  "F." 

Adolphus  Sherman,  Musician,  Paris,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Musician. 

Earl  A.  Hart,  Teamster,  Paris,  Aug.  5th,'1862,  Mechanic. 

Bonfoy,  Chas.  M.  Private,  Paris,  July  22d,  1 862,  Farmer. 

Croft,  Stephen  H.  Private,  Paris,  July  22d,  1862,  Farmer. 

Quinn,  James  Private,  Clayville,  July  23d,  1862,  Farmer;  killed  at  Fort  Fisher, 
Jan.  15th,  1865. 

Ward,  William  Private,  Clayville,  July  23d,  1862,  Farmer;  died,  Feb.  llth,  '65. 

Johnson,  Lewis  Private,  Clayville,  July  23d,  1862,  Mechanic;  transferred  to  V. 
R.  C.,  Oct.  13th,  1863. 

Treat,  Chas.  A.  Private,  Utica,  July  24th,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to  Corporal, 
Feb.  1st,  1865. 

Cogswell,  John  Private,  Clayville,  July  24th,  1862,  Mechanic;  killed  in  action, 
May  16th,  1864. 

Cogswell,  Joseph  B.  Private,  Clayville,  July  24th,  1862,  Mechanic;  missing  in 
action,  Oct.  27th,  1864. 

Luce,  Rosa  W.  Private,  Clayville,  July  24th,  1862,  Clerk;  taken  prisoner,  Aug. 
25th,  1864,  died  in  Libby  Prison. 

Hemmenger,  Philip  Private,  Clayville,  July  24th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Avery,  Edward  B.  Private,  Clayville,  July  24th,  1862,  Student;  promoted  to 
Corporal,  Nov.  llth,  1863. 

Pangburn,  Thos.  J.  Private,  Clayville,  July  24th,  1862,  Mechanic. 

Terrill,  Francis  0.  Private,  Clayville,  July  25th,  1862,  Mechanic. 

Wilcox,  Madison  Private,  Clayville,  July  25th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Lasher,  Wm.  G.  Private,  Clayville,  July  25th,  1862,  Mechanic. 

Lackenby,  William  Private,  Utica,  July  25th,  1862,  Carpenter. 


266  HISTORY  OP  THE   117TH  R.   N.    Y.    V. 

Robinson,  John  Private,   Clayville,  July  25th,   1862,  Farmer;  discharged  Nov. 

14th,  1862. 
Tuttlc,  Franklin  F.  Private,  Clayville,  July  25th,  1862,  Mechanic;  discharged 

Jan  30th,  1863. 

Gillman,  Henry  Private,  Clayville,  July  26th,  1862,  Mechanic. 
Olin,  Franklin  A.  Private,  Utica,  July  26th,  1862,  Farmer  ;  killed  in  action,  May 

16th,  1864. 

English,  Wm.   Private,  Utica,  July  27th,  1862,  Farmer. 
Powers,  Michael  Private,  Clayville,  July  28th,  1862,  Farmer. 
Dayball,  Sherman  B.  Private,  Clayville,  July  28th,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to 

Corporal,  Nov.  1st,  1864. 

Edwards,  Henry  Private,  Clayville,  July  28th,  1862,  Farmer. 
Allen,  Charles  S.  Private,  Paris,  July  28th,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to  Corporal 

Jan.  25th,  1863. 

Palmer,  Duane  T-  Private,  Paris,  July  29th,  1862,  Farmer. 
Egan,  James  Private,  Clayville,  July  30th,  1862,  Farmer. 
Harrison,  John  M.  Private,  Paris,  July  30th,  1862,  Farmer;  died  Nov.  1st,  1863, 

diarrhoea. 

Camp,  Willard  M.  Private,  Clayville,  July  30th,  1862,  Mason. 
Davis,  Win.  R.  Private,  Paris,  July  31st,  1862,  Farmer;  discharged  Oct.    16th, 

1863. 

Barber,  Silas  J.  Private,  Utica,  July  31st,  1862,  Farmer. 

Foster,  Henry  Private,  Utica,  July  31st,  1862,  Mechanic;  killed  before  Peters 
burg. 
Townsend,  J.  Private,  Paris,  Aug.  1st,  1862,  Carpenter;  discharged  Nov.  14th, 

1862. 

Olin,  Giles  Private,  Marcy,  Aug.  1st,  1862,  Farmer. 
Bombard,  Wm.  Private,  Utica,  Aug.  2d,  1862,  Machinist. 
Browning,  II.  A.  Private,  Utica,  Aug.  2d,  1862,  Farmer. 
Bates,  Josephus  Private,  Paris,  Aug.  4th,  1862,   Carpenter;  transferred  to  I.  C., 

Aug.  20th,  1863. 

Wheeler,  Edwin  A.  Private,  Paris,  Aug.  4th,  1862,  Farmer. 
Robinson,  Timothy  Private,  Clayville,  Aug.  4th,  1862,  Farmer. 
Merrill,  Albert  Private,  Clayville,  Aug.  5th,  1862,  Farmer ;  promoted  to  Corporal 

July  1st,  1864. 

Babcock,  Perry  F.  Private,  Paris,  Aug.  5th,  1862,  Farmer. 
Mosher,  Gustave  Private,  Paris,  Aug.  6th,  1862,  Butcher. 
Evans,  Evan  Private,  Utica,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Farmer. 
Evans,  Thomas  Private,  Utica,  July  31st,  1862,  Clerk. 
Johnson,  Wm.  H.  Private,  Utica,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Farmer;  discharged,  Sept. 

28th,  1863  ;  detailed  at  Brigade  H.  Q.,  July  21st,  1864. 
Johnson,  Thos.  Private,  Utica,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Barber. 

Edwards,  Robert  Private,  Utica,  Aug.  8th,  1862,  Boatman  ;  killed  before  Peters 
burg. 


HISTORY  OP  THE  117TH    B.   N.   Y.   V.  267 

Mason,  Albert  Private,  Clayville,  Aug.  8th,  1862,  Mechanic;  discharged  Oct. 

llth,  1863. 

Farrer,  James  Private,  Utica,  Aug.  8th,  1863,  Baker. 
Olin,  Martin  S.  Private,  Utica,  Aug.  8th,  1862,  Farmer. 
Belong,  Martin  L.  Private,  Paris,  Aug.  9th,  1862,  Manufacturer. 
Delong,  O.K.   Private,  Paris,  Aug.  9th,  1862,  Clerk;  promoted  to  Corporal, 

Aug.  13th,  1862,  to  Serg't  May,  1863,  died  Jan.  15th,  1865. 
Green,  Martin  V.  Private,  Paris,  Aug.  9th,   1862,  Farmer;  discharged  March 

27th,  1864. 
Green,  Geo.  W.  Private,  Paris,  Aug.  9th,  1862,  Clerk  ;  promoted  to   Corporal, 

March  1st,  1863,  to  Serg't  Jan.  15th,  1865. 
Anderson,  L.  W.  Private,  Paris,  Aug.  llth,   1862,  Agent;  discharged  May  2d, 

1863. 
Barnum,  Herbert  Private,  Paris,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Student;  discharged  Oct.  7th, 

1862. 

Briggs,  Alex.  M.  Private,  Paris,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Farmer. 
Hubbard,  Geo.  A.  Private,  Paris,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Student. 
Ireland,  Henry  Private,  Paris,  Aug.    llth,  1862,  Butcher ;  wounded  at  Drury's 

Bluff,  May  16th,  1864;  discharged,  March  7th,  1865. 
Knight,  Arthur,  Private,  Paris,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Student;  promoted  to  Corporal, 

April  13th,  1864,  to  Serg't  Feb.  17th,  1865. 

Kenyon,  I.  F.  Private,  Utica,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Clerk;  discharged  Oct.  16th,  '63. 
Monroe,  Joseph  D.  Private,  Utica,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Clerk  ;  promoted  to  Q.  M. 

Serg't,  April  1st,  1863. 
Oatley,  Wm.  H.  Private,  Paris,  Aug.  llth,   1862,  Clerk;  promoted  to  Corporal, 

March  17th,  1864,  died  at  Hampton  Hospital,  of  wounds  received  at  Drury's 

Bluff,  May  16th,  1864. 

Prosser,  Daniel  Private,  Paris,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  mechanic. 
Royce,  Laft.  W.  Private,  Paris,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Farmer. 
Ward,  James  D.  Private,  Paris,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Mechanic. 
Bailey,  Abel  S.  Private,  Paris,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to  Corporal, 

Aug.  13th,  1862,  to  Sergeant  Feb.  1st,  1864,  to  1st  Sergeant,  Feb.  17th,  1865. 
Bailey,  Wm.  W.  Private,  Paris,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to  Sergeant 

May  13th,  1865. 
Clement,  Chas.  L.  Private,  Paris,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Farmer;  discharged  Nov. 

24th,  1862. 

Cotterell,  A.  S.  Private,  Augusta,  Aug.  12th,  1862.  Farmer. 
Ennis,  V.  Remington  Private,  Augusta,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Farmer;  died  Nov. 

23d,  1862. 

Gray,  Thomas  Private,  Augusta,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Mechanic  ;  promoted  to  Cor 
poral,  Aug.  13th,  1862. 
Beach,  W.  W.  Private,  Augusta,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Farmer ;  missing  in  action, 

Sept.  29th,  1864. 
King,  Geo.  H.  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to  Corporal, 


268  HISTORY  OF  THE  117TH  B.   N.    Y.   V. 

May   1st,   1864;  killed  at  the  explosion  of  Magazine  at  Fort  Fisher,  Jan, 

16th,  1865. 

Kent,  David  P.  Private,  Utica,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Kendall,  A.  J.  Private,  Augusta,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Merchant;  Regimental  clerk- 
'Miller,  I.  M.  Private,  Augusta,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Farmer;  died  Aug.  3d,  1863. 
Quinn,  Morris  Private,  Paris,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Clerk. 
Robbins,  A.  \V.  Private,  Augusta,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Farmer. 
Stickney,  M.  D.  Private,  Paris,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Clerk. 

West,  Frank  H.  Private,  Augusta,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Farmer;  died  July  1 5th,  '63. 
Park,  De  Witt  C.  Private,  Lee,  Aug.  13th,  1862,  Farmer. 
Failey,  Patrick  Private,  Paris,  Aug.  14th,  1862,  Farmer. 
King,  Henry  D.  Jr.,  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  14th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Recruits  from  this  forward. 

Leroy,  Jonas  Private,  Utica,  March  19th,  1864,  Mechanic. 
Priest,  Rufus  Private,  Utica,  Jan.  4th,  1864,  Farmer. 
Potter,  George  L.  Private,  Utica,  Jan.  21st,  1864,  Farmer;  died  of  wounds,  July 

2d,  1864. 
Roy ce,  Eugene  Private,  Utica,  Jan.  4th,  1864,  Farmer;  discharged  Sept.  26th, 

J864. 

Royce,  Albert  H.  Private,  Utica,  Jan.  2d,  1864,  Clerk. 
Worclen,  William  C.  Private,  Utica,  Feb.  29th,  1864,  Mechanic. 
Pierson,  Chester  P.  Private,  Plainfield,  Jan.  18th,  1864,  Painter. 
Manson,  William  Private,  Utica,  Feb.  17th,  1864,  Painter. 
Parshall,  JohnB.  Private,  Paris,  Dec.  18th,  1864,  Blacksmith. 
Sherman,  Wm.  H.  Private,  Utica,  March  31st,  1864,  Painter;  transferred  to  V 

R.  C.,  April  30th,  1865. 
Baker,  Wm.  Private,  Marshall,  Jan.  6th,   1864,  Farmer;  died  of  wounds,  June 

19th,  1864. 
Irion,  Michael  Private,  Utica,  Feb.  9th,  1864,  Cigar  maker;  musician  in  Brigade 

Band. 

Barloe,  George  Private,  Rome,  Feb.  1st,  1864,  Farmer;  died  March  9th,  1864. 
Monroe,  Wm.  J.  Private,  Utica,  Dec.  9th,  1863,  Undertaker. 
Mateson,  Albert  Private,  New  Hartford,  Feb.  1864,  Farmer. 
McCarthy,  James  Private,  Paris,  Jan.  28th,  1864,  Farmer. 
Oliver,  Ed.  W.  Private,  Paris,  Feb.  8th,  1864,  Farmer. 
Long,  Thomas  Private,  Paris,  March  31st,  1864,  Farmer. 
Brooks,  Russell  Private,  Paris,  Sept.  1st.  1864,  Farmer. 

Kenyon,  H.  A.  Private,  Paris,  Sept.  5th,  1864,  Machinist;  died  Feb.  10th,  1865. 
Townsend,  D.  P.  Private,  Paris,  Sept.  1st,  1864,  Farmer;  discharged. 
Spooner,  H.  B.  Private,  Albany,  March  6th,  1865,  Artist. 
Young,  Joel  Private,  Albany,  March  3d,  1865,  Farmer. 
Algiers,  James  Private,  Troy,  March  7th,  1865,  Farmer. 
Donahay,  Jerry  Private,  Troy,  March  3d,  1865,  Laborer. 
Flanigan,  Morris  Private,  Troy,  March  4th,  1865,  Blacksmith. 


HISTORY  OP  THE  117TH  R.   N.    Y.   V.  269 

La  Goire,  Joseph  Private,  Troy,  March  3d,  1865,  Farmer. 
Sears,  Benjamin  Private,  Troy,  March  6th,  1865,  Farmer. 
Wagoner,  Aaron  Private,  Troy,  March  1st,  1865,  Laborer. 
Wagoner,  James  H.  Private,  Troy,  March  1st,  1865,  Laborer. 
Riley,  Charles  Private,  Tompkinsville,  March  9th,  1865,  Laborer. 
Mathewes,  James  Private,  Tompkinsville,  March  9th,  1865,  Laborer. 
Denny,  Michael  Private,  Tompkinsville,  March  9th,  18*55,  Laborer. 
Wilmarth,  Peter  B.  Private,  Tompkinsville,  March  9th,  1865,  Clerk. 
Blackwell,  John  T.  Private,  Tompkinsville,  March  9th,  1865,  Clerk. 
Seifert,  Matthias  Private,  Tompkinsville,  March  9th,  1866,  Farmer. 
Dakter,  Jacob  Private,  Jamaica,  March  9th,  1865,  Brewer. 
Harris,  Clark  Private,  Schenectady,  March  8th,  1865,  Farmer. 
Thomas,  Charles  Private,  Albany,  March  2d,  1865,  Farmer. 
Hind,  George  Private,  Syracuse,  March  14th,  1865,  Blacksmith. 
Loughrye,  John  Private,  Auburn,  March  26th,  1865,  Laborer. 
McDonald,  William  Private,  Elmira,  March  23d,  1865,  Laborer. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  H. 

ALMOND  R.  STEVENS,  Captain;  appointed  August  14,  1862  ;  wounded  June  15, 

at  capture  of  Petersburg  Heights.     While  absent  at  Hospital  in  consequence 

of  this  wound  he  lost  the  place  of  Major  to  which  he  was  entitled  by  rank. 

On  returning  for  duty  was  detailed  as  Inspector  General  on  Staff  of  Brig.  Gen. 

Curtis.    Afterwards,  till  close  of  the  war,  was  A.  A.  Inspector  Gen.  and  A.  A. 

Provost  Marshall  on  Staff  of  Gen.  Ames,  2nd  Div.  10th  A.  C. 
EDWARD  DOWNER,  1st  Lieutenant;  appointed  August  14,  1862;  promoted  to 

Captain,  May  1,  1864 ;  served  till  close  of  the  war,  commanded  Regiment  from 

January  16,  1865,  till  June  8. 
HENRY  SHEDD,  2d  Lieutenant;  appointed  August  14, 1862  ;  resigned  March  2d, 

1863.  

Henry  L.  Adams,  1st  Sergeant,  Vienna,  August  7,  1862,  Teacher;  promoted  to 

2d  Lieutenant,  May  18,  1864;  taken  prisoner,  October  27,  1864. 
Andrew  Wilkins,  Sergeant,  Camden,  August  4,  1862,  Painter;  deserted  August 

22,  1862. 
William  Southworth,  Sergeant, Westmoreland,  August  14, 1862,  Clerk;  promoted 

to  1st  Sergeant  May  25,  1864 ;  commissioned  2d  Lieutenant  May  11,  1865. 
Jesse  Irons,  Sergeant,  Verona,  August  19,  1862,  Mechanic;  reduced  to  Ranks 

October  1,  1864. 

Andrew  Kline,  Sergeant,  Utica,  July  24,  1862,  Tailor;  killed  October  27,  1864. 
Adam  Eckhart,  Corporal,  Verona,  August  12,  1862,  Farmer;  died  January  13, 

1864. 

18 


270  HISTORY  OP  THE  117TH  B.   N.    Y.   V. 

George  R.  Waid,  Corporal,  Vienna,  August  7,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to  Ser 
geant,  October  1,  1864,  killed  October  27,  1864. 

Henry  C.  Stowell,  Corporal,  Utica,  August  8,  1862,  Painter. 

Stephen  Jackson,  Corporal,  Vienna,  August  7,  1862,  Sawyer;  died  July  5,  1863. 

Edmons  Shirley,  Corporal,  Utica,  August  7,  1862,  Clerk;  discharged  December 
7,  1863. 

Henry  G.  Estes,  Corporal,  Utica,  August  12,  1862,  Printer. 

Albert  La  Tour,  Corporal,  Utica,  August  11,  1862,  Clerk. 

Theodore  Hibbard,  Corporal,  Utica,  August  9,  1862,  Barber;  promoted  to  Ser 
geant,  November  1,  1864. 

Charles  Shaver,  Musician,  Verona,  August  7,  1862,  Farmer;  transferred  to  Co, 
"I." 

James  A.  Wescott,  Musician,  Utica,  August  8,  1862,  Farmer;  discharged  Nov. 
14,  1862; 

Wm.  H.  Carnright,  Wagoner,  Vienna,  August  7,  1862,  Blacksmith;  discharged 
December  28,  1862.* 

Anson,  Jackson  Private,  Florence,  July  11,  1862,  Farmer;  discharged  December 
28,  1863. 

Burk,  James  Private,  Utica,  July  24,  1862,  Teamster. 

King,  John  W.  Private,  Utica,  July  25,  1862,  Farmer;  died  of  wounds,  June 
30,  1864. 

Martin,  Lyman  A.  Private,  Utica,  July  28, 1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to  Sergeant, 
October  1,  1862. 

Dean,  Lighten  Private,  Camden,  July  30,  1862,  Farmer;  discharged  Aug.,  1862. 

William,  Howell  Private,  Western,  July  31,  1862,  Farmer;  died  of  wounds  re 
ceived  29th  September. 

Barber,  Joseph  S.  Private,  Utica,  August  1,  1862,  Farmer. 

Hall,  George  A.  Private,  Verona,  August  3,  1862,  Farmer;  discharged  March 
10,  1863. 

Hall,  William  D.  Private,  Verona,  August  3,  1862,  Cigarmaker ;  discharged 
December  12,  1862. 

Overocker,  Lafayette  Private,  Verona,  August  3,  Farmer. 

Rowell,  Chauncey  Private,  Verona,  August  3, 1862,  Farmer  ;  died  May  25,  1864. 

Raymond,  John  Private,  Verona,  August  3,  1862,  Farmer  ;  killed  September  29, 
1864. 

Sayre,  Abner  C.  Private,  Verona,  August  3,  1862,  Farmer. 

Thorp,  Benj.  Private,  Verona,  August  3,  1862,  Farmer. 

Roswell,  Wm.  Private,  Verona,  August  4,  1862,  Farmer  ;  wounded  in  face  before 
Petersburg. 

Hewitt,  James  W.  Private,  Utica,  August  4,  1862,  Farmer;  discharged  Decem 
ber  18,  1862. 

Montague,  A.  G.  Private,  Utica,  August  4,  1862,  Barber  ;  deserted  February  2, 
1863. 

McGraham,  Owen  Private,  Utica,  August  5,  1862,  Farmer;  discharged  May  31, 
1863. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  117TH  R.   N.   Y.   V.  271 

Elmer,  A.  E.  Private,  Verona,  August  6,  1862,  Laborer;  promoted  to  Corporal, 

March  24,  1864. 
Hopsicker,  Carl  Private,  Boonville,  August  6,  1862,  Laborer  ;  wounded  Sept  59, 

before  Fort  Gilmer. 
Major,  Charles  Private,  Hawkinsville,  August  6,  1862,  Painter;  died  July  15, 

1863. 
Monnahan,  D.   Private,  Boonville,  August  6,  1862,  Laborer ;  died  of  wounds, 

July  22,  1864. 
Pangburn,  Harrison,  Private,  Verona,  August  6,  1862,  Laborer;  slightly  wounded 

two  or  three  times. 
Rabb,  Christopher  Private,  Hawkinsville,  August  6,  1862,  Laborer;  transferred  to 

Invalid  Corps.  / 

Rowley,  William  Private,  Utica,  August  6,  1862,  Laborer;  discharged  October 

5,  1862. 
Congdon,  Philo  B.  Private,  Viena,  August  7,  1862,  Farmer;  wounded  Sept.  29, 

at  Fort  Gilmer,  discharged. 

Dibble,  Judson  C.  Private,  Vienna,  August  7,  1862,  Farmer;  wounded  at  Cap 
ture  of  Petersburg  Heights,  June  15,  1864. 
Palms,  Truman  Private,  Vienna,  August  7,  1 862,  Carpenter;  discharged  Sept. 

1,  1863. 
Tuttle,  Noah  Private,  Vienna,  August  7,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to  Corporal,, 

November  1,  1864. 
Tuttle,  Rufus  Private,  Vienna,  August  7,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to  Corporal', 

November  I,  1864. 

Wright,  William  B.  Private,  Vienna,  August  7,  1882,  Laborer  ;  killed  by  light 
ning,  Aug.  18,  1864. 

Blackwood,  Robert  Private,  Utica,  August  7,  1862,  Weaver. 
Benjamin,  J.  H.  Private,  Rome,  August  7,  1862,  Farmer. 
Cober,  John  Private,  Deerfield,  August  7,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to  Corporal, 

October  1,  1864,  killed,  January  15,  1865,  at  Fort  Fisher. 
Foster,  George  B.  Private,  Verona,  August  3,  1862,  Farmer;  wounded  before 

Petersburg,  at  explosion  of  Mine,  July  30,  1864. 
McKce,  James  F.  Private,  Vienna,  August  8, 1862,  Farmer. 
Warner,  James  S  Private,  Vienna,  August  9,  1862,  Farmer ;  discharged  January 

12,  1883. 

Gregory,  Elnathan  Private,  Verona,  August  9,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to  Cor 
poral,  February  15,  1865. 
Gallager,  James  Private,  Verona,  August  9,  1862,  Farmer;  wounded  15  of  June 

1864,  before  Petersburg,  discharged. 
Gleasman,  Charles  Private,  Verona,  August  9,  18G2,  Carpenter;  wounded  Sept. 

29,  died  of  wounds. 
Goca,  Cassimer  Private,  Verona,  August  9,  1862,  Mechanic ;  wounded  at  For* 

Fisher,  discharged. 

Hannager,  Frederick  Private,  Verona,  August  9,  1862,  Farmer. 
Keiley,  James  Private,  Verona,  August  9, 1862,  Laborer. 


272  HISTORY  OP  THE  117TH  B.   N.   Y.    V. 

Laglan  John  Private,  Verona,  August  9,  1862,  Boat  Builder. 
Mumpton,  John  Private,  Verona,  Aug.  9,  1862,  Farmer;  transferred  to  V.  R.  C. 
Onderdonk,  Justice  Private,  Verona,  August  9,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to  Cor 
poral,  October  1,  1864. 

Smith,  John  II.  Private,  Verona,  August  9,  1862,  Farmer. 
Will,  William  Private,  Verona,  August  9,  1862,  Farmer;  killed  at  Fort  Fisher, 

January  15,  1865. 
Baker,  Jacob  Private,  Annsville,  August  11,   1862,  Laborer;  wounded  before 

Petersburg,  June  15,  1864,  discharged  for  consequent  disability. 
Bettinger,  Ira  F.  Private,  Verona,  August  11,  1862,  Farmer;  killed  at  Fort 

Fisher,  January  15,  1865. 

Dibble,  George  Private,  Vienna,  August  11,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to  Corpo 
ral,  May  25,  1864. 

Down,  James  Private,  Camden,  August  11,  1862,  Farmer. 
Ferguson,  Julius  Private,  Utica,  August  11,  1862,  Laborer. 
Hartwell,  Albert  Private,  Utica,  August  11,  1862,  Farmer;  died  May  6,  1864. 
Hatch,  Isaac  F.  Private,  Floyd,  August  11,  1862,  Farmer;  wounded  at  Fort 

Fisher. 
Johnson,  Thomas  B.  Private,  Vienna,  August  11, 1862,  Farmer  ;  died  of  wounds, 

August  16,  1864. 
McClellan,  Alonzo  E.  Private,  Vienna,  August  11,  1862,  Farmer;  discharged 

October  30,  1862. 

Palms,  Andrew  Private,  Vienna,  August  11,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to  Cor- 
•  poval. 
Smith,  Solon  Private,  Camden,  August  11,  1862,  Farmer  ;  promoted  to  Corporal, 

July  25,  1864. 
Stone,  George  C.   Private,  Vienna,  August  11,  1862,  Carpenter;  promoted  to 

Corporal,  May  25,  1864,  killed  September  29,  1864. 
Tuttle,  William  Private,  Camden,  August  11,  1862,  Farmer;  died  at  Beaufort, 

S.  C. 
Holmes,  Henry  Private,  Rome,  August  12,  1862,  Tailor;  discharged  January  2, 

1863. 

Haas,  Jacob  Private,  Verona,  August  12,  1862,  Farmer. 

Jones,  William  H.  Private,  Floyd,  August  12,  1862,  Farmer;  died  June  17,  1864. 
Lane,  William  H.  Private,  Utica,  August  12,  1862,  Farmer. 
Riley,  Richard  S.  Private,  Verona,  August  12,  1862,  Cigar  Maker. 
Williams,  Thomas  H.  Private,  Floyd,  August  12,  1862,  Farmer. 
Dyas,  William  Private,  Utica,  August  12,  1862,  Clerk. 
Bissell,  Frank  Private,  Utica,  August  13,  1862,  Student ;  discharged  February 

28,  1863. 

Clifford,  Robert  Private,  Camden,  Aug.  11,  1862,  Farmer ;  died  at  Raleigh,  N.  C. 
Pelton,  Erastus  Private,  Rome,  August  13,  1862,  Farmer. 
Kimball,  W.  H.  Private,  Rome,  August  14,  1862,  Farmer. 
Lewin,  Thomas  Private,  Westmoreland,  August  14,  1862,  Farmer. 
Langer,  Lewis  Private,  Annsville,  August  14,  1862,  Farmer;  wounded  Sept.  29. 


HISTORY   OP  THE   117TH  R.   N.   Y.   V.  273 

Satighter,  J.  Christian  Private,  Rome,  August  14,  1862,  Farmer. 

Walter,  John  A.  Private,  Verona,  August  14,  1862,  Cabinet  maker. 

Hall,  John  Private,  Rome,  August  15,  1862,  Farmer;  died  September  22,  1864. 

Petril,  John  Private,  Rome,  August  15,  1862,  Farmer. 

Parks,  Robert  Private,  Rome,  August  15,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to  Corporal, 

December  1,  1863,  died  of  wounds,  July  21,  1864. 

Twining,  Seth  R.  Private,  Rome,  August  15,  1862,  Farmer;  died  Jan.  5,  1863. 
Spencer,  Andrew  Private,  Camden,  August  5,  1862,  Farmer. 
Rice,  Asa  Private,  Rome,  August  13,  1862,  Farmer. 
Avery,  Delas  Private,  Verona,  August  25,  1862,  Fanner. 

1864. — All  are  Recruits  from  this  forward. 
Kappes,  Joseph  Private,  Utica,  February  27,  1864,  Farmer. 
Gorr,  William  Private,  Rome,  January  19,  1864,  Farmer;  wounded  October  27, 

1864,  transferred  to  48th  R.  N.  Y.  V. 
Bohmer,  Michael  Private,  Rome,  February  10,  1864,  Farmer;  transferred  to  V. 

R.  C.,  March  20,  1865. 
Fetterly,  Westley  Private,  Amesville,  February  18,  1864,  Laborer  ;  transferred  to 

48th  R.  N.  Y.  V. 
Gordon,  George  Private,  Rome,  January  11,  1864,  Boatman  ;  wounded  at  Fort 

Fisher. 
Haslock,  Robert  Private,  Utica,  January  16, 1864,  Draper;  killed  September  29, 

1864. 
Hanmacker,  Philip  Private,  Rome,  January  11,   1864,  Farmer;  transferred  to 

48th  R.  N.  Y.  V. 
Johnson,  Wallace  Private,  Verona,  January  9,  1864,  Farmer;  transferred  to  48th 

R.  N.  Y.  V. 

Marks,  John  Private,  Lee,  February  10,  1864;  Farmer. 
Rohen,  Frank  Private,  Utica,  February  16,  1864;  Laborer. 
Sherwood,  E.  T.  Private,  New  Hartford,  January  4,  1864,  Clerk. 
Spell,  William  II.  Private,  Utica,  December  1,  1863,  Clerk. 
Cone,  Eli  Private,  Utica,  August  19,  1864,  Printer. 
Keim,  Wm.  R.  Private,  Utica,  March  26,  1864,  Clerk. 
Eastwood,  James  Private,  Remsen,  August  19,  1S64,  Mechanic. 
Loomis,  Morris  H.  Private,  Remsen,  August  19,  1862,  Farmer;  killed  October 

27,  1864. 

Young,  George  A.  Private,  Boonville,  August  13,  1864,  Farmer. 
Harnacker,  Valentine  Private,  Boonville,  March  10,  1864,  Farmer. 
Francis,  Charles  S.  Private,  Jamaica,  March  10,  1864,  Clerk. 
Kenny,  David  Private,  Jamaica,  March  10,  1864,  Painter. 
Roberson,  George  Private,  Jamaica,  March  8,  1864,  Painter. 
Foxe,  George  Private,  Jamaica,  March  10,  1864,  Farmer. 
Lewis,  Henry  Private,  Jamaica,  March  10,  1864,  Stationer. 
Freeman,  Martin  Private,  Jamaica,  March  9,  1864,  Laborer. 


274  HISTORY   OP  THE   117TH  R.   N.    Y.   V.. 

Kemble,  Alfred  Private,  Jamaica,  March  10,  1864,  Machinist. 

Madden,  Thomas  Private,  Jamaica,  January  10,  1864,  Laborer. 

Davenport,  John  Private,  Jamaica,  January  26,  1864,  Boatman. 

Johnson,  William  Private,  N.  Y.  City,  March  14,   1865,  Farmer;  transferred  to 

4Sth  N.  Y.  V. 

Daly,  Henry  Private,  N.  Y.  City,  March  25,  1865,  Farmer;  transferred. 
Williams,  John  Private,  N.  Y.  City,  February  17,  1865,  Farmer :  no. 
Hazelton,  Josiah  Private,  Syracuse,  March  17,  1865,  Farmer;  no. 
Mclntire,  Cornelius  Private,  Canandaigua,  March  15,  1865,  Farmer;  no. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  I. 

CHARLES  H.  WHEELOCK,  appointed  Captain  Aug.  15th,  1862;  resigned  Feb. 

14th,  1864. 
JOHN  C.  HAYES,  appointed  1st  Lieutenant  Aug.  15th,  1862  ;  resigned  Oct.  29th, 

1862. 
AMI  MARQUISSEE,  appointed  2d  Lieutenant  Aug.  15th,  1862;  resigned   Oct. 

21st,  1863. 


H.  Dwight  Grant,  1st  Sergeant,  Boonville,  Aug.  9th,  1862,  Lumberman ;  pro 
moted  to  2d  Lieutenant,  Aug.  23d,  1864;  taken  prisoner  at  Drury's  Bluff,  May 
16th,  1864. 

Henry  J.  McWaine,  Sergeant,  Ava,  July  29th,  1862,  Farmer ;  transferred  to  I.  C., 
Dec.  26th,  1863. 

C.  S.  Sperry,  Sergeant,  Boonville,  Aug.  9th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Simeon  H.  Greens,  Sergeant,  Western,  Aug.  2d,  1862,  Farmer;  killed  in  action 
Sept.  29th,  1864. 

John  M.  Joslin,  Sergeant,  Boonville,  Aug.  14th,  1862,  Farmer;  discharged  Oct. 
27th,  1862. 

Clinton  G.  Grant,  Corporal,  Boonville,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to 
Sergeant  Aug.  1st,  1863. 

Newton  P.  Stimson,  Corporal,  Boonville,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Alfred  Butler,  Corporal,  Western,  Aug.  2d,  1862,  Farmer;  died  Nov.  26th,  '63- 

Owen  Rjurka,  Corporal,  Ucica,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Laborer. 


HISTORY   OF  THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V.  275 

Marks  Kelley,  Corporal,  Boonville,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Michael  Gephart,  Corporal,  Ava,  Aug.  2d,  1862,  Farmer. 

Dewitt  Groshang,  Corporal,  Ava,  Aug.  5th,  1862,  Mechanic. 

Ebenezer  Gaylord,  Corporal,  Boonville,  Aug.  12th,   1862,  Painter;  discharged 

Dec.  18th,  1862. 
C.  C.  Dewey,  Musician,  Boonville,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Farmer;  died  Sept.  llth, 

1863. 

Livingston  Meeker,  Jr.,  Musician,  Boonville,  Aug.  9th,  1862,  Laborer. 
Harvey  Dind,  Teamster,  Boonville,  Aug.  8th,   1862,  Farmer;  discharged  Oct. 

17th,  1862. 

James,  Thomas  H.  Private,  Utica,  July  24th,  1862,  Farmer. 
Ingalls,  William  Private,  Utica,  July  28th,   1862,  Farmer;  discharged  Dec.  2d, 

1862. 

Petre,  William  S.  Private,  Utica,  July  28th,  1862,  Mechanic. 
Wias,  William  Private,  Utica,  July  30th,  1862,  Boat  builder;  deserted  at  organ- 

ization  of  regiment. 

Marhaugh,  Wm.  Private,  Western,  July  30th,  1862,  Farmer. 
Hebley,  Chasper  Private,  Utica,  July  31st,  1862,  Laborer. 
Hill,  Hiram  D.  Private,  Utica,  July  31st,  1862,  Tradesman. 
Sherman,  Levi  Private,  Ava,  Aug.  2d,  1862,  Farmer;  killed  in  the  assault  on 

Fort  Fisher, 

Kingsbury,  Delos  Private,  Utica,  Aug.  2d,  1 862,  Farmer. 
Franklin,  Samuel  Private,  Western,  Aug.  5th,  1862,  Farmer;  discharged  Sept. 

24th,  1864. 

Southwick,  Geo.  F.  Private,  Utica,  Aug.  5th,  1862,  Farmer. 
Groff,  George  Private,  Western,  Aug.  6th,  1862,  Farmer;  died  Oct.  17th,  1862. 
Mowers,  Hczekiah  Private,  Western,  Aug.  6th,  1862,  Farmer;  died  of  wounds, 

June  27th,  1864. 

Roberts,  Wm.  M.  Private,  Utica,  Aug.  6th,  1862,  Farmer. 
Kingsbcrry,  A.  Private,  Western,  Aug.  6th,  1862,  Farmer. 
Mowers,  Daniel  Private,  Western,  Aug.  6th,  1862,  Farmer;  killed  in  action, 

Oct  27th,  1864. 
Burke,  Albert  Private,  Ava,  Aug.  7th,  1862.  Farmer;  promoted  to  Corporal, 

July  1st,  1863;  discharged  March  1st,  1865. 

Griffith,  Evan  C.  Private,  Western,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to  Cor 
poral,  Nov.  26th,  1863. 
Meeker,  Charles  Private,  Boonville,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Farmer;  killed  at  Fort 

Fisher,  Jan.  15th,  1865. 
Coleman,  Tremain  Private,  Boonville,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Farmer;  deserted  March 

7th,  1863. 
Norton,  Marcus  Private,  Boonville,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Farmer;  died  of  wounds, 

May  28th,  1864. 

Houck,  Joseph  Private,  Boonville,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Farmer. 
More,  Wm.  J.  Private,  Western,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Farmer;  missing  in  action, 

Sept.  29th,  1864. 


276  HISTORY  OF  THE   117TH  R.   N.   Y.    V. 

Hart,  Charles  Private,  Western,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Hammond,  J.  M.  Private,  Boonville,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Farmer;  died  in  U.  S. 
Gen'l  Hosp.,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Taft,  Delos  Private,  Western,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Burke,  John  Private,  Ava,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Farmer;  discharged  Feb.  4th,  1863. 

Crofoot,  Thomas  H.  Private,  Western,  Aug.  7th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Hutchings,  I.  E.  Private,  Western,  Aug.  8th,  1862,  Farmer;  transferred  to  I.  C., 
Jan.,  1864. 

Braman,  James  D.  Private,  Boonville,  Aug.  8th,  1 862,  Farmer. 

McGoldrich,  Peter  Private,  Boonville,  Aug.  8th,  1862,  Farmer;  died  Sept.  12th, 
1862. 

Burch,  Joseph,  Jr.,  Private,  Western,  Aug.  8th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Ilutchins,  Jonathan  Private,   Western,  Aug.  8th,   1862,  Farmer. 

Parmelce,  Judson  Private,  Western,  Aug.  8th,  1 862,  Farmer. 

McConrad,  David  Private,  Ava,  Aug.  8th,  1862,  Lawyer  ;  deserted  at  organiza 
tion  of  regiment. 

Williams,  Griffith  Private,  Western,  Aug.  8th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Black,  John  Private,  Boonville,  Aug.  9th,  1862,  Tailor;  discharged  for  disability, 
Eov.  2d,  1864. 

Rockerath,  P.  J.  Private,  Utica,  Aug.  9th,  1862,  Painter;  deserted  at  organiza 
tion  of  regiment. 

Conklin,  Thos.  B.  Private,  Western,  Aug.  9th,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to  Ser 
geant,  Oct.  17th,  1862. 

Hamblin,  Charles  Private,  Boonville,  Aug.  9th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Lobdell,  James  Private,  Boonville,  Aug.  9th,  1862,  Lumberman. 

Smith,  J.  B.  Private,  Rome,  Aug.  9th,  1862,  Laborer;  discharged  Sept.   30th. 

Edwards,  Chas.  Private,  Utica,  Aug.  9th,  1862,  R.  R.  man. 

Thurston,  Franklin  Private,  Ava,  Aug.  9th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Anderson,  John  Private,  Utica,  Aug.  9th,  1862,  Gardener. 

Brooks,  Wm.  Private,  Boonville,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Farmer;  discharged  Aug. 
25th,  1864. 

Cummings,  W.  Private,  Boonville,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Tailor;  discharged  Dec. 
5th,  1863. 

Cronin,  Daniel  Private,  Boonville,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Shoemaker;  died  of  wounds, 
June,  1864. 

Dewey,  Curtis  Private,  Boonville,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Laborer;  died  of  wounds, 
July  13th,  1864. 

Gibens,  James  Private,  Boonville,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Carpenter. 

Heavencr,  Charles  Private,  Boonville,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Laborer;  died  at  10th 
A.  C.  Hospital. 

Hoag,  David  Private,  Boonville,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Farmer. 

Lobdell,  John  Private,  Boonville,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Laborer. 

Lawton,  Alonzo  Private,  Utica,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Laborer. 

Miller,  Benj.  F.  Private,  Utica,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to  Com. 
Sergt,  Aug.  20th,  1862.  Commissioned  2d  Lieut. 


HISTORY   OF  THE   117TH   E.   N.    Y.    V.  277 

Murphy,  Flavel  Private,  Boonville,  Aug.  llth,  1862,  Book  keeper. 

Wheeler,  Mariam  Private,  Boonville,  Aug.  11  th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Brooks,  Joseph  Private,  Boonville,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Laborer ;  killed  July  4th, 
1864. 

Bacon,  H.  H.  Private,  Boonville,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Boardman,  David  A.  Private,  Boonville.  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Engineer. 

Caulkins,  Theo.  Private,  Utica,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Farmer;  deserted  at  organiza 
tion  of  regiment. 

Chase,  Fenton  Private,  Boonville,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Tinsmith. 

Ooleman,  John  Private,  Ava,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Lumberman  ;  died  Dec.  3d,  1862. 

Fox,  Thaddeus  Private,  Western,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Farmer;  died  Dec.  1st,  '62. 

Gillett,  Orimel  Private,  Western,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Farmer  ;  killed  at  Fort  Fisher, 
Jan.  15th,  1865. 

Gansey,  Truman  Private,  Boonville,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Mann,  M.  M.  Private,  Boonville,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Lumberman. 

Saturley,  Addison  Private,  Western,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Laborer  ;  discharged  April 
29th,  1865. 

Slocum,  Samuel  Private,  Boonville,  Aug.  12th,  1862,  Laborer. 

Drake,  Meliza  Private,  Boonville,  Aug.  13th,  1862,  Farmer;  killed  in  action, 
Sept.  29th,  1864. 

Laquay,  Lafayette  Private,  Boonville,  Aug.  13th,  1862,  Farmer ;  discharged 
March  14th,  1865. 

Wetherwox,  M.  Private,  Boonville,  Aug.  13th,  Farmer;  discharged  Oct.  23d/63. 

Wisley,  Alonzo  Private,  Boonville,  Aug.  13th,  1862,  Goldsmith;  discharged 
Jan.  8th,  1863. 

Bellington,  James  Private,  Boonville,  Aug.  13th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Bellinger,  Myron  Private,  Boonville,  Aug.  14th,  1862,  Farmer ;  died  Dec.  10th, 
1862. 

Cronk,  Jonas  D.  Private,  Boonville,  Aug.  14th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Foot,  Abram  D.  Private,  Boonville,  Aug.  14th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Fitch,  James  Private,  Boonville,  Aug.  14th,  1862,  Farmer. 

Hichcock,  W.  D.  Private,  Boonville,  Aug.  14th,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to  Cor 
poral,  Dec.  1st,  1862. 

Lincoln,  David  M.  Private,  Utica,  Aug.  14th,  1862,  Farmer;  discharged  Dec. 
18th,  1862. 

Sergeant,  Augustus  W.  Private,  Boonville,  Aug.  14th,  1862,  Mechanic. 

Irion,  Jacob  Private,  Utica,  Aug.  15th,  1862,  Cigar  maker;  drum  Major. 

1 864. — Recruits  from  this  forward. 

Orcutt,  James  G.  Private,  Utica,  Feb.  22d,  1864,  Machinist ;  killed  May  16th/64. 
Burlingame,  0.  Private,  litica,  Feb.  15th,  1864,  Painter. 
Cunningham,  J.  Private,  Utica,  Feb.  18th,  1864,  Boatman. 
Divine,  Dewey  S.  Private,  Utica,  Jan.  29th,  1864,  Engineer;  died  Oct.  23d,  '64- 
Divine,  Classon  S.  Private,  Utica,  Feb.  15th,  1864,  Machinist. 


278  HISTORY  OP  THE  117TH  R.   N.    Y.    V. 

Gilford,  Chas.   Private,  Utica,  Feb.  22d,  1864,  Sawyer. 

Harrington,  A.  A.  Private,  Utica,  Feb.  15th,  1864,  Farmer;  killed  July  I7th,'64. 

Harger,  Jason  Private,  Utica,  Feb.  29th,  1864,  Farmer;  killed   June  7th,  1864  ; 

'•  May  the  old  flag  triumph  !"  was  one  of  his  last  utterances,  as  he  lay  dying 

on  the  field. 

Hamblin,  W.  F.  Private,  Utica,  March  29th,  1864,  Farmer. 
McDonald,  Peter  Private,  Utica,  Jan.  15th,  1864,  Farmer. 
Meayo,  Geo.  B.  Private,  Utica,  Jan.  16th,  1864,  Soldier;  "E  "  Co. 
Quackenboss,  E.  Private,  Utica,  Jan.  30th,  1864,  Millwright. 
Ruze,  Samuel  Private,  Utica,  Feb.  12th,  1864,  Farmer. 
Smith,  D.  H.  Private,  Utica,  Jan.  22d,  1864,  Tailor. 

Strong,  Geo.  \V.  Private,  Utica,  Jan.  22d,  1864,  Laborer;  died  Aug.  2d,  1864. 
Moon,  Andrew  Private,  Utica,  Feb.  llth,  1864,  Farmer. 
Cameron,  John  Private,  Utica,  Feb.  22d,  1864,  Mason. 
Cameron,  John  B.  Private,  Utica,  Feb.  22d,  1864,  Farmer;  killed  Sept.  29th, 

1864. 

Griffith,  Benj.  Private,  Utica,  April  6th,  1864,  Laborer. 
Simon,  Henry  H.  Private,  Utica,  April  6th,  1864,  Farmer. 
Whiter,  Abraham  Private,  Utica,  March  16th,  1864,  Teamster. 
Cronck,  Oliver  Private,  Ava,  Jan,  llth,  1864,  Farmer;  died  April  9th,  1864. 
Coon,  Kenyon  B.  Private,  Marshall,  Jan.  8th,  1864,  Joiner ;  transferred  to  V.  B.  C. 
McDowell,  C.  H.  Private,  Utica,  Feb.  27th,  1864,  Clerk. 
Kosenthall,  Levi  Private,  Utica,  Feb.  17th,  1864,  Tailor. 
Windsor,  J.  B.  Private,  Utica,  Feb.  6th,  1864,  Laborer;  missing  in  action,  May 

16th,  1864. 
Henright,  Timothy  Private,  Utica,  Aug.  7th,  1864,  Farmer;  missing  in  action, 

Sept.  29th,  1864. 

Klink,  Stephen  Private,  Boonville,  Aug.  6th,  1864,  Laborer. 
Houston,  A.  H.  Private,  Utica,  Aug.  8th,  1864,  Painter. 
Knight,  Joseph  Private,  Paris,  Aug.  5th,  1864,  Farmer. 
Williamson,  A.  Private,  Boonville,  Aug.  26th,  1864,  Laborer. 
Murphy,  Timothy  Private,  N.  Y.  City,  March  9th,  1865,  Laborer. 
Welsh,  James  Private,  N.  Y.  City,  March  10th,  1865,  Clerk. 
Merkle,  Sabastian  Private,  N.  Y.  City,  March  10th,  1865,  Grocer. 
Morris,  Joseph  Private>  Goshen,  March  9th,  1 865,  Laborer. 
Fair,  Phineas  S.  Private,  Goshen,  March  10th,  1865,  Laborer. 
Dubois,  Lewis  Private,  Goshen,  March  10th,  1865,  Laborer. 
Carmichael,  H,  Private,  Goshen,  March  10th,  1865,  Laborer. 
Dubois,  Victor  Private,  Goshen,  March  10th,  1865,  Cook. 
Yan,  Max  Private,  Goshen,  March  10th,  1865,  Machinist. 
Byron,  E.  J.  Private,  Tarrytown,  March  10th,  1865,  Clerk. 
Moore,  Thos.  Private,  Tarrytown,  March  10th,  1865,  Laborer. 
Petrooetz,  N.  Private,  Tarrytown,  March  10th,  1865,  Sailor. 
Shields,  James  Private,  Tarrytown,  Feb.  21st.  1865,  Laborer. 
Johnson,  G.  A.  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  10th,  1865,  Clerk. 


HISTORY   OP   THE   117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V.  279 

Kickens,  G.  B.  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  10th,  1865,  Seaman. 
McCreacly,  J.  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  10th,  1865,  Sailor. 
Joy,  John  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  10th,  1865,  Laborer. 
Caulkins,  M.  L.  Private,  Goshen,  March  9th,  1865,  Laborer. 
Smith,  E.  L.  Private,  Goshen,  March  9th,  1865,  Laborer. 
Gledhill,  Henry  Private,  Rochester,  March  14th,  1865,  Cooper. 
Kalp,  Andrew  Private,  Lockport,  Feb.  28th,  1865,  Farmer. 
Kittleman,  G.  Private,  Lockport,  March  4th,  1865,  Farmer. 
Brown,  William  Private,  Rome,  Dec.  24th,  18S3,  Farmer. 
Henderson,  John  Private,  New  Hartford,  Jan.  8th,  1864,  Farmer. 


RC-STER  OF  COMPANY  K. 

JAMES  A.  RACE,  Captain  ;  appointed  August  15,  1862;  resigned  Aug.  29,  1862. 

LINUS  R.  CLARK,  1st  Lieutenant;  appointed  August  15,  1862;  promoted  to 
Captain,  March  26,  1863;  received  wound  in  battle,  October  27,  1864,  which 
involved  the  loss  of  one  leg;  was  honorably  discharged  service,  Mch.  20,  1865. 

JOHN  H.  FAIRBANKS,  2d  Lieutenant ;  appointed  November  24,  1862;  promoted 
to  1st  Lieutenant,  May  18,  1864  ;  Breveted  Captain,  for  "gallant  and  meritori 
ous  services,"  at  Fort  Fisher,  to  date  from  March  1,  1865  ;  was  seriously 
wounded  at  the  taking  of  Fort  Fisher. 


Alonzo  Denton,  1st  Sergeant,  Remsen,  July  30,  1862,  Clerk;  Promoted  to  2d 

Lieutenant,  May  23,  1864,  wounded  September  29. 

N.  B.  Hinckley,  Sergeant,  Kirkland,  Aug.  3,  1862,  Student;  died  July  11,  1863. 
William  Goodier,  Sergeant,  Remsen,  August  13,  1862,  Farmer;  died  of  wounds, 

November  8,  1864. 
George  L.  Mills,  Sergeant,  Augusta,  August  11,  1862,  Farmer;  discharged  Feb. 

20,  1863. 

Levi  Mungcr,  Sergeant,  Utica,  July  23,  1862,  Clerk;  died  June  19,  1863. 
Samuel  Wyckoff,   Corporal,  Marshall,  July  22,   1862,  Tailor;  promoted  to  1st 

Sergeant  September  7,  1862,  reduced  to  ranks  November  5,  1862. 
Joseph  Vale,  Corporal,  Remsen,  August  4,  1862,  Sawyer. 
James  Calen,  Corporal,  Boonville,  August  6,  1862,  Farmer. 
George  A.  Bartholomew,  Corporal,  Kirkland,  August  13, 1862,  Farmer ;  killed  at 

Fort  Fisher,  January  15,  1865. 

Homer  Lowell,  Corporal,  Augusta,  July  8,  1862,  Farmer. 
John  Stannard,  Corporal,  Remsen,  Aug.  1,  1862,  Carpenter. 
Alonzo  Boice,  Corporal,  Remsen,  July  30,  1862,  Lawyer;  died  July  17,  1863. 
John  C.  Lathrop,  Corporal,  Kirkland,  August  15,  1862,  Farmer;  transferred  to 

Signal  Corps,  January  13,  1863. 


280  HISTORY   OP  THE    117TH   R.    N.    Y.    V. 

C.  T.  Root,  Musician,  Marshall,  August  9,  1862  Farmer. 

William  Dibble,  Teamster,  Remscn,  August,  13,  1862,  Teamster. 

Reynolds,  Curtis  W.  Private,  Augusta,  July  12,  1862,  Laborer. 

Lindsley,  Albert  Private,  Marshall,  July  17,  1862,  Farmer. 

Morgan,  Edward  Private,  Kirkland,  July  23,  1862,  Farmer. 

Pratt,  Milton  Private,  Augusta,  July  23,  1862,  Laborer;  died  Nov.  2,  1863. 

Bonner,  William  L.  Private,  Augusta,  July  24,  1862,  Farmer. 

Lyman,  Thomas  H.  Private,  Kirkland,  July  24,  1862,  Farmer;  transferred  to  V- 
R.  C.  October  11,  1863. 

Dunster,  Alfred  Private,  Marshall,  July  28,  1 862,  Farmer. 

Gurley,  George  Private,  Marshall,  July  28,  1862,  Farmer. 

Martin,  Frank  Private,  Marshall,  July  28,  1862,  Cooper;  died  Nov.  29,  1862. 

Miller,  Henry  H.  Private,  Kirkland,  July  28,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to  Cor 
poral  March  1,  1864,  wounded  at  Petersburg. 

Warner,  Edgar  F.  Private,  Kirkland,  July  28,  1862,  Farmer;  died  Nov.  I,  1863. 

Bass,  Levi  T.  Private,  Kirkland,  July  30,  1862,  Laborer ;  wounded  September 
29,  slight. 

Kenyon,  Charles  H.  Private,  Kirkland,  July  30,  1862,  Farmer;  died  September 

1,  1863. 

Page,  Charles  Private,  Marshall,  July  31,  1862,  Farmer. 

Duffy,  John  Private,  Kirkland,  July  31,  1865,  Farmer. 

Cumings,  Edward  Private,  Marshall,  July  31,  1862,  Farmer;  transferred  to  V. 

R.  C.  October  11,  1863. 
Petch,  Thomas  Private,  Kirkland,  August  1,  1862,  Tailor ;  discharged,  March 

17,  1863. 

Cumarford,  John  Private,  Remsen,  August  1,  1862;  Sawyer. 
Kilkenny,  Wm.  Private,  Remsen,  August  1, 1862,  Sawyer;  promoted  to  Corporal, 

November  1,  1863,  taken  prisoner,  at  Drury's  Bluff. 
Reed,  George  W.  Private,  Kirkland,  August  1,  1862,  Laborer;  killed,   Fort 

Fisher,  January  15,  18fi5. 

Harrington,  Ed.  Private,  Kirkland,  August  1,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to  Cor 
poral,  November  1,  1863,  promoted  to  Sergeant,  May  25,  1864. 
Boice,  Joseph  Private,  Remsen,  August  2,  1862,  Teamster. 
Armstrong,  A.  P.  Private,  Kirkland,  August  2,  1862,  Carpenter;  transferred  to 

V.  R.  C.  January  6,  1864. 

Carlin,  Michael  Private,  Remsen,  August  2,  1862,  Teamster;  killed  June  10/64. 
Jones,  Charles  E.  Private,  Remsen,  August  3, 1862,  Farmer  ;  killed  at  Petersburg. 
Patterson,  James  Private,  Remsen,  August  4,  1862,  Teamster;  died  October  19, 

1864. 
Warner,  J.  C.  Private,  Kirkland,  August  4,  1862,  Laborer ;  wounded  September 

29,  1864,  taken  prisoner,  died  in  Salisbury  prison. 
Ho  well,  William  Private,  Augusta,  August  5,  1862,  Farmer. 
Howe,  John  Private,  Augusta,   August  5,  1862,  Farmer;  discharged  February 

2,  1863. 


HISTORY   OF   THE  117TH   R.   N.    Y.    V.  281 

Smith,  Thomas  Private,  Kirkland,  August  5,  1862,  Laborer ;  promoted  to  Ser 
geant. 

Savage,  John  Private,  Kirkland,  August  5,  1862,  Blacksmith. 

Thompson,  M.  J.  Private,  Marshall,  August  5,  1 862,  Farmer. 

Burke,  Henry  Private,  Marshall,  August  6,  1862,  Laborer;  promoted  to  Corpo 
ral,  November  1,  1863,  wounded  at  battle  of  Drury's  Bluff. 

Flinn,  Richard  Private,  Kirkland,. August  6,  1862,  Farmer;  died  of  wounds  July 
15,  1864.  , 

Taft,  Miles  W.  Private,  Kirkland,  August  6,  1862,  Farmer;  died,  April  2,  1863. 

Rodice,  John  Private,  Kirkland,  August  8,  1862,  Laborer;  promoted  to  Corporal 
May  25,  1864,  detached  on  color  guard. 

Murphy,  Edward  Private,  Kirkland,  August  8,  1862,  Laborer;  promoted  to  Cor 
poral,  April,  1863  ;  kille'd  in  action,  May  16,  1863. 

Grumman,  Charles  H.  Private,  Kirkland,  August  8, 1862,  Carpenter;  promoted 
to  Corporal,  October  1,  1862,  wounded  September  29,  promoted  to  Sergeant- 
November  8,  1862,  1st  Sergeant,  May  25,  1864. 

Crane,  Mark  Private,  Augusta,  August  9,  1862,  Miller;  promoted  to  Corporal, 
November  1,  1862,  missing  since  charge  on  Fort  Gilmer,  September  29. 

Richmond,  J.  C.  Private,  Marshall,  August  9,  1862,  Laborer;  died  Sept.  5,  1863. 

Kilren,  Patrick  Private,  Remsen,  August  9,  1862,  Chopper. 

Bradley,  George  Private,  Kirkland,  August  11,  1862,  Cooper;  wounded  and 
missing  since  September,  1864. 

Daniels,  Reuben  A.  Private,  Marshall,  August  11,  1S62,  Farmer;  died  Decem 
ber  23,  1862. 

Griswold,  Martin  P.  Private,  Yernon,  August  11,  1862,  Farmer;  transferred  to 
Company  A. 

Johnson,  Burdett  Private,  Vernon,  August  11,  1862,  Farmer;  transferred  to  Co. 
A,  promoted  to  Sergeant, 

Taft,  George  W.  Private,  Marshall,  August  11,  1862,  Farmer;  Promoted,  Nov. 
21,  1863;  died  of  wounds,  July  25,  1864. 

Snyder,  Philip  Private,  Remsen,  August  11,  1862,  Farmer;  died  Oct.  20,  1863. 

McClure,  Samuel  Private,  Remsen,  August  12,  1862,  Farmer. 

Paash,  William  Private,  Remsen,  August  12,  1862,  Farmer. 

Onley,  John  Private,  Remsen,  August  12,  1862,  Farmer. 

Snell,  Ozias  Private,  Remsen,  August  12,  1862,  Farmer;  discharged  November 
4,  1864. 

Sommers,  John  Private,  Remsen,  August  12,  1862,  Boatman  ;  killed  September 
29,  1864. 

Schieffer,  Charles  Private,  Remsen,.  August  12,  1862,  Farmer;  killed  at  Fort 
Fisher,  January  15,  1865. 

Holmes,  S.  E.  Private,  Kirkland,  August  12,  1862,  Farmer;  taken  prisoner, 
September  29,  died  in  prison. 

Haywood,  Caleb  Private,  Kirkland,  August  12,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to  Cor 
poral,  November  2,  1862,  to  Sergeant,  Nov.  1,  1863,  died  of  wounds,  June,  '64. 

Powers,  Wm.  H.  Private,  Kirkland,  August  12,  1862,  Farmer. 


282  HISTORY   OF  THE   117TH  R.   N.   Y.   V. 

Twitchell,  E.  W.  Private,  Kirkl?.nd,  August  12,  1862,  Farmer. 

Thomson,  Calvin  Private,  Kirkland,  August  13,  1862,  Farmer;  taken  prisoner 
and  died  at  Salisbury. 

Ensworth,  J.  T).  Private,  Kirkland,  August  13,  1862,  Farmer. 

App,  Andrew  Private,  Remsen,  August  13,  1362,  Teamster. 

Barr,  Horace  Private,  Remsen,  August  13,  1862,  Sawyer;  taken  prisoner,  Sept. 
29,  1864,  died  in  Salisbury  prison. 

Calaman,  Anthony  Private,  I'oori^ille,  August  13,  1862,  Farmer. 

Dustin,  Samuel  B.  Private,  Remsen,  August  13,  1862,  Farmer;  wounded  at 
Petersburg, 

Elthrop,  Able  Private,  Remsen,  August  13,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to  Corpo 
ral,  May  12,  1864,  killed  September  29,  1864. 

Isley,  Jacob  Private,  Remsen,  August  13,  1862,  Farmer. 

Jenkins,  David  Private,  Remsen,  August  13,  1802,  Miller. 

Krasapiziger,  Wm.  Private,  Remssn,  Aug.  13, 1862,  Farmer;  died  Nov. 26,  1863. 

Maloncy,  Tim.  Private,  Remsen,  August  13,  1862,  Teamster. 

Michael,  Steven  Private,  Remsen,  August  13,  1862,  Sawyer. 

Madrid,  Joseph  Private,  Remsen,  August  13,  1862,  Farmer, 

Madrid,  Lafayett  Private,  Remsen,  August  13,  1862,  Farmer;  wounded  at 
Drury's  Bluff,  May  16,  1864. 

Patterson,  Wm.  Private,  Remsen,  August  13,  1862,  Farmer. 

Platt,  Harvey  Private,  Remsen,  July  31,  1862,  Farmer;  promoted  to  Coporal, 
November  1,  1863. 

Holeman,  Henry  Private,  Boonville,  August  13,  1862,  Mechanic;  died,  Novem 
ber  25,  1863. 

Wiltsey,  Lorenzo  Private,  Remsen,  August  13,  1862,  Shoemaker;  died  October 
2,  1863. 

Walker,  Henry  Private,  Remsen,  August  13,  1802,  Laborer;  died  of  wounds, 
July  20,  1864. 

Young,  Nelson  Private,  Remsen,  August  13,  1862,  Sawyer;  died,  Jan.  1,  1865. 

Perkins,  S.  J.  Private,  Augusta,  August  14,  1862,  Laborer;  transferred  to  V.  R. 
C.  October  11,  1863. 

McAdams,  James  Private,  Marshall,  August  14,  1862,  Laborer. 

Pete,  Anson  Private,  Remsen,  August  14,  1862,  Carpenter;  transferred  to  V.  R. 
C.  November  2,  1863. 

Martin,  Florence  Private,  Marshall,  August  14,  1862,  Book  keeper. 

Kelley,  Walter  Private,  Remsen,  August  15,  1862,  Miller. 

Barton,  Thomas  W.  Private,  Kirkland,  August  15,  1862,  Student;  discharged, 
October  7,  1863. 

Sheppard,  Jack  Private,  Remsen,  August  20,  1862,  Hunter;  promoted  to  Corpo 
ral,  October  20,  1862,  to  Sergeant,  June  20,  1863. 


HISTORY  OP  THE  117TH  R.   N.    Y.   Y.  283 

1864. — All  from  this  forward  are  Recruits. 

Babcock,  Warren  H.  Private,  Utica,  February  13,  1864,  Farmer. 
DeGeorgy,  Charles  H.  Private,  Utica,  January  18,  1864,  Laborer;  wounded  at 

Drury's  Bluff,  May  16,  1864. 

DeGeorgy,  J.  W.  Private,  Utica,  February  6,  1864,  Laborer. 
Green,  Wm.  C.  Private,  Utica,  February  13,  1862,  Laborer;  killed  Sept.  28/64. 
Green,  John  Private,  Utica,  February  11,  1862,  Laborer. 
Trask,  Edwin  Private,  Utica,  January  2,  1864,  Laborer. 
Van  Valkenburg,  Wm.  Private,  Utica,  January  12,  1862,  Farmer. 
Williams,    Morris  Private,  Utica,  January  6,  1862,  Laborer;  killed  at  Drury's 

Bluff. 
DeLany,  Mansfield  Private,  Utica,  February  29,  1864,  Farmer;  killed,  May  10, 

1864. 

Flint,  Martin  Private,  Utica,  February  20,  1864,  Farmer. 
Darling,  David  Private,  Utica,  February  23,  1864,  Clerk. 
Maloney,  Thomas  Private,  Utica,  December  11,  1863,  Laborer. 
Davis,  John  Private,  Utica,  February  10,  1864,  Farmer. 

Curry,  William  Private,  Utica,  March  27,  1864,  Farmer;  killed  May  16,  1864. 
Garlock,  Charles  Private,  Utica,  March  31,  1864,  Farmer;  killed  May  16,  1864. 
Gallagher,  Michael  Private,  New  Hartford,  January  25,  1864,  Laborer. 
Joy,  Thomas  Private,  Marshall,  January  26,  1864,  Farmer;  wounded,  May  16, 

1864. 

Murray,  Wells  C.  Private,  Whitestown,  January  25,  1864,  Boatman. 
Turner,  Koswcll  Private,  Kirkland,  February  16,  1864,  Farmer;  killed,  May  16, 

1864. 

Royce,  Harvey  T.  Private,  Remsen,  August  16,  1864,  Lumberman. 
Rathburn,  John  Private,  Kirkland,  August  23,  1864,  Farmer. 
Richard,  George  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  10,  1865,  Waiter. 
Mack,  Cornelius  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  10,  1865,  Lumberman. 
Aschlever,  George  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  10,  1865,  Soldier. 
Hennacy,  James  Private,  Brooklyn,  February  23,  1865,  Painter. 
Miller,  L.  I.  Private,  Brooklyn,  February  22,  1865,  Clerk. 
Wolf,  Henry  Private,  Brooklyn,  February  23,  1865,  Merchant. 
Hawley,  John  Private,  Brooklyn,  February  21,  1865,  Butcher. 
Degan,  Peter  Private,  Brooklyn,  February  24,  1865,  Clerk. 
Stapleton,  Patrick  Private,  Brooklyn,  February  21,  1865,  Laborer. 
Estrado,  Henry  Private,  Brooklyn,  February  22,  1865,  Horse  dealer. 
Henry,  Edward  H.  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  21,  1865,  Oyster-man. 
Gruber,  Max  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  20,  1865,  Cigar  maker. 
Hernise,  Alexander  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  21,  1865,  None. 
Klin,  Oscal  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  24,  1865,  Clerk. 
Lowns,  John  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  22,  1865,  Cook. 
Ryan,  William  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  22,  1865,  Laborer. 
Scheeman,  Benjamin  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  24,  1865,  Clerk. 


284  HISTORY  OP  THE  117TH  R.   N.   Y.   V. 

Shay,  Evart  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  21,  1865,  Laborer. 
Thompson,  Robert  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  21,  1865,  Collier. 
Wilson,  John  R.  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  21,  1865,  Painter. 
Pope,  Jj>hn  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  23, 1865,  Farmer. 
Schafizel,  Frederick  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  24,  1865,  Butcher. 
Blum,  Atrgust  Private,  Brooklyn,  March  24,  1865,  Soldier. 
Irener,  Edward  Private,  Brooklyn,  February  23,  1865,  Sailor. 
Anderson,  Frank  Private,  Brooklyn,  February  23,  1865,  Laborer. 
Leiter,  George  Private,  Lockport,  February  28,  1865,  Manufacturer. 
Muller,  Francis  I.  Private,  Clarkville,  March  17,  1865,  Jeweler. 


OBITUARY. 


Capt.  JOHN  M.  WALCOTT,  although  not  possessed  of  rugged  health,  had  had 
an  irrepressible  desire  to  devote  whatever  of  health  and  strength  he  had  to  the  service 
of  his  country.  And  having  obtained  consent  of  his  widowed  mother  who  leaned 
upon  him  for  counsel,  for  her  other  younger  son  Franklin  was  already  in  the  field,  he 
opened  a  recruiting  office  in  Utica,  July  12th,  1862.  Through  his  great  energy  the 
company  was  soon  organized. 

The  Regiment  left  Utica,  August,  1862.  In  August,  1863,  he  came  home  much 
worn  by  his  severe  duties,  and  returned  to  Folly  Island,  S.  C.,  in  September;  but 
his  health  was  not  equal  to  the  duties  of  the  field,  and  he  was  transferred  to  the  10th 
Regiment  Invalid  Corps,  to  the  command  of  Co.  G,  then  stationed  at  Fort  Schuyler, 
New  York  Harbor;  but  his  duties  here  were  hardly  less  onerous  than  while  in  active 
service  and  his  health  gradually  failed;  and  suddenly  attacked  with  inflammation  of 
the  lungs,  there  was  no  vital  energy  left  to  throw  off  the  disease,  and  he  sank  under 
it  March  15th,  1864,  at  the  age  of  twenty-eight. 

I  am  happy  to  say  of  Capt.  WaJcott,  that  he  was  a  true  Christian  gentleman.  He 
was  greatly  respected  and  beloved  by  the  officers  of  his  regiment,  and  he  endeared 
himself  much  to  his  company.  He  was  willing  to  sacrifice  his  own  health  and  com 
fort  for  his  men.  One  of  his  soldiers  said  he  owed  his  life  to  the  Captain's  kindness, 
for  he  gave  up  his  own  bed  to  the  sick  soldier  and  lay  himself  on  the  ground,  and 
'  all  the  company  bear  the  same  united  testimony  to  his  kindness. 

Col.  Pease,  gives  his  estimate  of  him  as  a  friend,  a  gentleman  and  a  soldier,  in  a 
letter  written  to  the  Captain's  Mother  after  his  death. 

"  It  always  gives  me  pleasure  to  bear  testimony  to  the  manly  virtues  of  my  de 
parted  friend.  And  I  will  say  there  was  not  a  man  of  my  acquaintance  whose 
friendship  I  prized  so  highly  as  his.  He  was  faithful  in  his  friendship,  patriotic  arid 
zealous  in  the  cause  of  his  country,  warm-hearted  toward  all,  and  charitable  to 
ward  the  erring.  I  have  lost  a  dear  friend  and  you  madam  a  noble  son."  Lieutenant 
Col.  Kane,  in  announcing  to  the  10th  Regiment  Invalid  Corps,  the  death  of  the  Capt. 
says.  "  His  ability  as  an  officer,  his  many  virtues,  his  soldierly  and  gentlemanly 
bearing,  together  with  his  uniformly  kind  consideration  of  others,  have  commanded 
our  respect  and  won  our  estimation  and  regard." 

And  those  who  knew  him  best  in  his  last  years,  in  the  army,  and  at  home,  are 
consoled  with  the  belief,  that  he  has  gone  to  receive  the  blessing  awarded  to  those 
who  were  true  and  self  sacrificing,  in  the  hour  of  their  country's  peril,  and  loyal  to 
their  God. 

SEV.  C.  FITCH, 

Pastor  of  Pres.  Church  at  New  York  Mills. 
It/ 


286  OBITUARY. 

Oapt.  GEORGE  W.  BRIO-HAM,  was  a  native  of  the  town  of  Vernon,  where 
most  of  his  life  was  spent,  and  where  he  was  universally  respected  and  beloved  for  his 
noble  qualities.  His  grandfather  was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution  and  fought  at 
Bunker  Hill,  and  with  the  blood  of  such  an  ancestry  he  could  not  pursue  contentedly 
his  civil  pursuits  while  his  country  was  in  danger. 

He  promptly  responded  to  the  call  for  the  organization  of  the  117th,  and  in  a  few 
days  recruited  among  his  own  townsmen  a  large  portion  of  Co.  "  A,"  which  entitled 
him  to  a  commission  for  1st  Lieutenant,  and  he  was  mustered  in  as  such  at  the  organiz 
ation  of  that  company,  but  before  the  regiment  left  the  county  he  was  promoted  to 
the  position  of  Captain  to  fill  the  vacancy  occasioned  by  the  promotion  of  Captain 
White  to  the  place  of  Lieut.  Colonel. 

He  was  wounded  in  the  hip,  in  the  battle  of  Drury's  Bluff.  From  the  effects  of 
the  injury  he  died  three  days  after,  aged  twenty-seven.  When  he  fell  at  the  head  of 
Co.  A,  of  which  he  was  justly  proud,  and  which  he  loved  and  cared  for  with  a 
father's  solicitude,  he  waved  his  hat  to  them  and  shouted,  "  Go  on  Boys,  and  give  it  to 
them !  I  am  wounded  but  not  conquered."  Such  souls  are  never  conquered,  they 
fight  on  though  the  body  dies.  He  was  a  young  man  of  a  quiet,  modest  deportment, 
yet  of  unflinching  firmness  and  uprightness  of  character,  of  high  moral  worth  and 
sterling  patriotism.  These  characteristics  secured  him  the  affections  of  his  company 
and  the  respect  and  confidence  of  his  superior  officers  in  a  preeminent  degree. 

Thus  another  worthy  name,  was  added  to  our  country's  roll  of  honor,  in  behalf  o^ 
inalienable  rights. 

Capt.  JOSIAH  PARSONS  STONE,  was  a  native  of  the  town  of  Camden,  N.  Y. 
At  an  early  age  he  was  thrown  upon  his  own  resources,  and  at  seventeen  went  to 
New  York  city,  where  he  entered  into  the  business  of  printing.  At  the  expiration 
of  one  year  he  returned  to  his  native  town  and  engaged  as  associate  proprietor  of  the 
village  newspaper.  Soon  after,  becoming  dissatisfied  with  his  education,  he  aban 
doned  business  and  spent  three  years  in  the  schools,  the  last  two  in  college,  and  then 
commenced  the  study  of  law.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1857,  and  for  two 
years  was  connected  in  business  with  Messrs.  Beach  and  Bailey  of  Rome.  After 
spending  another  year  in  N.  Y.  city,  he  returned  and  formed  a  law  partnership  in 
Camden,  which  was  known  as  that  of  "  Stevens  and  Stone."  While  here  and  thus 
employed,  he  responded  to  the  call  for  the  raising  of  the  4th  Oneida.  He  entered  at 
once  on  the  work  of  recruiting  and  was  among  the  first  to  muster  a  sufficient  num 
ber  of  men  to  entitle  him  to  a  commission  of  1st  Lieutenant.  On  the  organization  of 
the  regiment  and  the  promotion  of  Capt.  Daggett  to  Major,  he  was  appointed  Captain 
of  Co.  B,  receiving  his  commission  Aug.  19th,  1862.  Captain  Stone  was  a  man  of  few 
words,  but  as  an  officer  was  always  found  in  his  place,  prompt  in  the  performance  of 
duty,  securing  the  confidence  of  his  superiors,  and  the  respect  of  his  men.  He  was 
in  the  battle  of  Drury's  Bluff  and  at  the  capture  of  Petersburg  Heights.  Two  days 
after  the  latter  engagement,  on  the  afternoon  of  the  17th  of  June,  he  was  shot  and  in 
stantly  killed  by  a  sharp-shooter.  His  age  was  thirty.  See  History,  page  116. 

Capt.  WILLIAM  J.  HUNT,  was  a  native  of  Oneida  County ;  he  was  active  in 
recruiting  Co.  F,  and  joined  the  regiment  as  1st  Lieutenant  under*  Captain  Stevens. 
He  was  appointed  August  12th  1862,  and  was  promoted  to  Captain,  December  27th, 
1863.  He  was  of  an  energetic  turn  and  appeared  to  possess  both  a  relish  and  an 
aptness  for  military  life.  He  was  in  the  battle  of  Drury's  Bluff,  and  at  Cold  Harbor, 
and  bore  a  conspicuous  part  in  the  charge  of  Petersburg  Heights.  While  serving  in 


OBITUAEY.  287 

the  seige  of  the  city  on  the  17th  day  of  July,  he  was  wounded  by  a  minnie  ball  from 
the  rifle  of  a  sharp  shooter.  He  was  borne  to  the  hospital,  where  he  lingered  till 
July  31st,  when  he  died  from  the  effects  of  his  wound.  Though  a  capable  officer  he 
was  the  youngest  man  holding  the  same  rank.  In  his  social  intercourse  he  was  ac 
tuated  by  the  most  benevolent  and  generous  impulses.  He  was  popular  among  his 
fellow  officers  and  beloved  by  his  men. 

Capt.  JOHN  T.  THOMAS,  was  a  native  of  the  town  of  Trenton.  He  was  born 
September  29th,  1830.  At  the  proper  age  to  make  the  choice  of  a  trade  he  chose 
that  of  stone  cutter,  he  was  active,  industrious  and  enterprising,  of  an  amiable  and 
generous  disposition.  He  was  naturally  "good  hearted"  and  accordingly  always 
diligent  in  promoting  the  welfare  of  his  company.  The  same  social  quality  rendered 
him  a  favorite  among  his  fellow  officers,  and  almost  a  father  to  his  men.  In  his 
dealings  he  was  manly  and  honorable,  despising  a  mean  act.  Having  labored  for  the 
recruiting  of  Co.  F,  August  12th,  1862,  he  was  appointed  2nd  Lieutenant;  Dec.  27th, 
1863,  he  was  promoted  to  1st  Lieutenant,  and  on  the  llth  October,  1864,  promoted 
to  Captain.  As  an  officer  he  was  always  cool,  faithful  and  reliable.  He  was  in  the 
battles  of  Drury's  Bluff,  at  Cold  Harbor,  at  the  capture  of  Petersburg  Heights,  in 
the  siege  of  Petersburg,  at  Laurel  Hill  Church  on  the  29th  Sept.,  at  Darbeytown 
Road,  and  in  the  assault  on  Fort  Fisher,  where  he  was  instantly  killed  by  a  bullet  from 
the  enemy  after  he  had  gained  the  interior  of  the  work. 

The  Captain's  wife  having  died  a  few  months  previously,  by  his  death  his  only 
child,  a  boy  of  about  12  years,  was  left  an  orphan. 

Lieut.  ISAAC  H.  DANN,  a  native  of  the  County.  Having  been  active  in 
recruiting  for  Company  A,  was  appointed  to  the  position  of  1st  Lieutenant,  Aug. 
20th,  1862.  lie  was  a  young  man  of  good  principles  and  correct  habits,  and  of  a 
mature  and  vigorous  intellect.  He  was  self-educated  and  self-reliant ;  had  chosen  the 
profession  of  Law,  and  enjoyed  a  fair  prospect  for  gaining  an  honorable  place  in 
that  calling.  Though  deliberate  in  his  manner,  he  was  still  resolute  and  prompt  in 
the  discharge  of  his  duty  as  an  officer.  Having  enlisted  from  principle,  his  whole 
mind  was  enlisted  in  the  service  of  his  country.  With  such  qualities  of  head  and 
heart,  it  is  no  wonder  he  was  popular  in  the  regiment.  He  served  in  the  Suffolk 
campaign,  and  in  the  terrible  engagement  of  Drury's  Bluff,  and  was  killed  on  the 
day  the  Kegiment  arrived  at  Cold  Harbor.  A  rebel  bullet  entered  the  chest,  causing 
death  in  the  course  of  a  few  hours.  Thus  another  hero  fell. 

WM.  C.  CASELMAN,  was  born  in  Clinton,  Oneida  County;  at  about  10  years 
of  age,  removed  with  his  father  to  Vernom  At  the  age  of  17,  he  enlisted  in  the 
regular  army,  served  for  the  most  part  in  the  far  west,  and  at  the  expiration  of  three 
years,  received  an  honorable  discharge,  when  he  returned  to  his  home  in  Oneida 
County.  The  late  war  breaking  out  soon  after,  he  soon  enlisted  in  an  Indiana  Kegi 
ment,  which  underwent  some  very  severe  service  under  Gen.  Butler,  at  Hatteras. 

The  Regiment  soon  after  returned  to  Baltimore,  where  it  was  stationed  for  several 
months.  While  there,  he  formed  the  acquaintance  of  the  lady  who  a  little  later  be 
came  his  wife.  He  attained  the  rank  of  1st  Lieutenant  in  that  regiment.  A  little 
later  he  resigned  and  returned  home.  His  knowledge  of  military,  rendered  him  a  de 
sirable  accession,  and  he  was  induced  to  join  the  117th.  He  went  as  Sergeant  in  Co. 
D,  and  contributed  very  much  to  the  reputation  of  that  Company,  by  his  services  as 
drilling  officer.  His  qualifications  seemed  quite  in  advance  of  his  rank. 

He  was  possessed  of  a  good  mind,  which  he  had  improved  by  reading  and.  study 


288  OBITUARY. 

He  was  liberal  and  comprehensive  in  his  views ;  both  by  organization  and  conviction 
— a  Kepublican.  Being  a  vigorous  reasoner,  he  was  always  ready  to  defend 
and  vindicate  the  doctrine  of  equal  protection  and  equal  rights.  He  was  generous 
hearted,  confiding  and  faithful.  Appointed  2d  Lieutenant,  May  19th,  1864;  pro 
moted  to  1st  Lieutenant,  July  12th,  1864.  Was  wounded  in  the  campaign  of  Suffolk, 
was  fatally  wounded,  May  16th,  1864,  at  the  battle  of  Drury's  Bluff,  and  died  the 
same  night.  He  left  a  wife  and  one  child. 

Lieut.  J.  KNOX  WILLIAMS,  was  a  native  of  the  town  of  Vernon,  and  the 
only  child  of  Thomas  Williams  of  that  town.  He  was  born  on  the  16th  day  of  Sept. 
1838,  and  fell  at  the  head  of  his  Company,  on  the  29th  of  Sept.  1864,  at  Chapin's 
Farm,  within  the  sound  of  the  church  bells  of  Kichmond.  He  was  wounded  by  a 
ball  passing  nearly  through  his  body  from  before,  and  lodging  at  the  surface  in  the 
region  of  the  spine,  and  while  walking  off  the  field,  supported  by  two  soldiers,  he  re 
ceived  another  ball  in  the  back,  which  passed  out  very  near  where  the  former  one 
entered. 

He  reported  to  the  Surgeon,  who  told  him  that  there  was  no  hope  in  his  case ;  he 
immediately  made  such  disposal  of  his  watch,  diary  and  other  valuables,  as  seemed 
to  him  necessary,  and  then  calmly  awaited  the  coming  end.  He  was  carefully  placed 
on  a  bed  in  an  ambulance,  and  carried  to  Bermuda  Hundred,  a  distance  of  about  six 
miles,  where  he  died  the  next  morning. 

He  received  a  good  Academic  education,  and  entered  Hamilton  College,  where  he 
spent  one  year ;  at  which  time,  relinquishing  his  plan  of  a  College  course,  he  entered 
Eastman's  Commercial  College,  fitting  himself  for  business  duties;  returning,  he  as 
sisted  his  father  is  his  manufacturing  business  for  about  two  years,  when  in  1860, 
he  entered  the  store  of  his  uncle,  James  C.  Knox,  of  Knoxboro,  as  clerk  and  general 
book  keeper,  where  he  was  when  he  enlisted  in  the  117th,  at  the  time  of  its  organiza 
tion.  With  a  club  of  eleven  others,  among  which  he  was  prominent,  he  joined  Co. 
G  of  that  Regiment.  He  was  made  Sergeant  in  his  Company,  from  which  post  he 
was  promoted  to  2d  Lieutenant,  on  the  19th  of  March,  1864;  to  that  of  1st  Lieuten 
ant,  April  12th  of  the  same  year.  He  had  command  of  a  Company  about  three 
months,  and  a  Captain's  Commission  for  him,  reached  the  Regiment  a  few  days  after 
his  death,  with  rank  from  the  20th  of  September. 

He  was  a  young  man  of  genial  manners  and  unblemished  character,  strictly  tem 
perate  in  his  habits,  and  a  public  professor  of  religion,  having  connected  himself  with 
the  "Presbyterian  Church  of  his  native  town,  in  the  spring  of  1858.  His  remarkable 
moral  firmness  was  well  illustrated  in  his  last  hours,  by  his  refusal  to  take  stimulants 
when  advised  by  the  Surgeons ;  his  reply  was,  "  I  never  take  it." 

The  following  extracts  from  a  letter  from  Chaplain  Crippen  to  his  father,  since  his 
death,  furnishes  testimony  as  to  the  character  he  sustained  in  the  Regiment,  and  the 
estimate  in  which  he  was  held  by  his  fellow  officers  : 
DBAK  SIR: 

I  well  remember  your  son  J.  Knox  Williams.  Kendall,  your  son, 
Lindsley  Robins  and  others,  held  daily  religious  worship  in  their  tent,  and  kept  it  up 
till  the  Regiment  went  to  Eastern  Virginia.  They  each  and  all  maintained  their 
Christian  characters  without  rebuke,  so  long  as  I  had  knowledge  of  them.  Your  son, 
with  many  others,  gave  his  name  to  our  regimental  church,  at  our  first  prayer  meet 
ing,  held  in  the  open  air  among  the  stumps,  near  Fort  Alexander.  We  esteemed  him 
,one  of  our  most  upright,  moral  and  reliable  men. 


OBITUARY.  289 

I  saw  the  account  of  his  death,  at  the  head  of  his  Company,  and  thought  then  as 
now,  there  died  a  patriot  and  a  Christian. 

Truly  Yours, 

J.  T.  CBIPPEN. 

V 

Lieut.  EVAN  G-.  JONES,  was  a  native  of  the  County.  He  served  acceptably 
in  different  capacities  in  the  Regiment,  fell  ill  in  the  spring  of  1863,  of  typhoid  fever, 
while  the  regiment  was  near  Suffolk,  and  died  at  Portsmouth  Hospital,  July  12th. 

The  following  preamble  and  resolutions  passed  at  a  meeting  of  the  officers  of  the 
regiment,  July  17th,  afford  a  fair  representation  of  his  character  and  standing: 

Whereas,  by  the  recent  death  of  Lieutenant  Evan  G.  Jones,  of  Company  B  of  this 
Regiment,  we  are  called  to  mourn  the  loss  of  a  most  valued  and  beloved  comrade 
and  friend,  and  feel  ourselves  impelled  to  some  expression,  though  inadequate,  of  our 
appreciation  of  his  worth,  our  grief  at  his  departure,  and  our  sympathy  with  his 
friends  in  their  bereavement. 

Therefore — Resolved, — That  in  the  conduct  and  career  of  Lieutenant  Jones  in  this 
regiment,  we  recognize  convincing  proofs  of  his  possession  of  a  high  order  of  intelli 
gence  and  amiability,  an  excellent  judgment,  an  honest  and  thorough  devotion  to 
duty,  and  a  lofty  and  unselfish  patriotism,  rendering  valuable  aid  in  raising  the  regi 
ment  ;  enlisting  as  a  private  soldier,  without  expectation  of  promotion ;  raised  subse 
quently,  with  no  effort  or  self-seeking  on  his  part,  to  the  position  of  Quarter-master's 
Sergeant  and  Second  Lieutenant,  he  acquitted  himself  in  every  capacity,  most  man 
fully  and  honorably,  and  secured  the  respect  and  esteem  of  every  officer  and  man 
who  knew  him. 

Resolved — That  our  personal  contact  and  intercourse  with  him,  have  not  only  con 
firmed  and  strengthened  our  estimate  of  his  character,  but  have  revealed  in  him  an 
amiability  and  moderation  of  temper,  and  a  purity  of  thought  and  life,  that  have 
greatly  endeared  him  to  us,  as  a  gentleman,  an  associate  and  a  friend. 

Resolved — That  in  respect  to  the  memory  of  our  deceased  comrade,  we  will  wear 
the  usual  badge  of  mourning  for  thirty  days. 

AUGUSTUS  M.  EEWIN,  F.  X.  MYEE, 

Lieutenant  Co.  E,  Captain  Co.  C,  117th,  R.  N.  Y.  V. 

Secretary.  President. 


SYNOPSIS. 


SYNOPSIS  OF  MOVEMENTS  MADE  BY  THE  117TH  REGIMENT,  FOR  THE  MOST  PART 

DURING   THE   LAST   TWELVE   MONTHS   OF   THE   WAR. 

Made  passage  of  Chesepeake  Bay,  three  times,  twice  down,  once  up. 

"      York  Kiver,  six         "      thrice  each  way. 

"  "      Pamunky  River,  four       "      twice    "        " 

"      James  "       seven     "      thrice  up,  four  times  down. 

Passed  Cape  Henry,          six         "      four  times  out,  twice  back.      [back. 

Coastwise,  (S.  of  Ft.  Monroe,)  five  times,  four  times  down,  twice 
Crossed  Appommatox  River,  seven  times. 

SERVED  ACTIVELY   ON 
Suffolk  line,  Va.  once. 

Folly  and  Morris  Islands,  S.  C.  once,  a  period  of  about  8  months 
Bermuda  Line,  Va.  four  periods. 
Petersburg  Line,  Va.  three  periods. 
North  of  James  Line,  Va.  two  periods. 
White  House,  Va.  two  periods. 
Federal  Point,  N.  C.  two  periods. 


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